Israel Launches New Attacks On Gaza

Israel's military planes and artillery early on Thursday launched a new series of attacks on different areas in the Gaza Strip, firing scores of missiles and rockets against these targets, leaving some Palestinians dead and others injured.



Israeli planes launched 18 raids against the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah within the last three hours, an eyewitness said.



He added that scores of Palestinians were injured by the strikes and were immediately taken to hospital.



Another eyewitness said Israeli artillery deployed in Sufa east of the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah had shelled Palestinian lands and homes in the area, leaving some Palestinians injured behind and destroying properties.  



Areas eastern the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis are also being shelled, an eyewitnesses.



The Israeli army bans ambulances, aid responders and rescue workers from reaching victims in the attacked areas, according to Palestinian Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qodra.



"This threatens to increase the number of dead victims," al-Qodra said.



Israeli F16 planes also targeted several homes in the eastern part of Gaza city, totally destroying them, an eyewitness said.



Another witness said Israeli military planes and helicopters continue to hover at a low altitude over different parts of the Gaza Strip, targeting some buildings.



Since July 7, Israel has pummeled the Gaza Strip with fierce air and naval bombardments with the ostensible aim of halting Palestinian rocket fire.



Last week, Israel stepped up its offensive to include ground operations, sending thousands of troops into the embattled coastal enclave.



Israel's offensive has left at least 701 Palestinians dead – mostly civilians.



Israel's operation "Protective Edge" is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populated strip – home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – within the last six years.



In 2008/9, over 1500 Palestinians were killed – the vast majority of them civilians – during Israel's three-week-long "Operation Cast Lead."



By Mustafa Haboosh



englishnews@aa.com.tr



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