Qassam Accuses Israel Of Violating Gaza Truce

The Ezzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian resistance faction Hamas, have accused Israel of violating a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.



In a Friday statement, the Brigades said that Israel was disregarding regional and international efforts by shelling the southern Rafah city, which killed scores of people on Friday.



The statement, however, gave no word about the abduction of an Israeli soldier in the Gaza Strip.



The Israeli army said that a soldier had been captured and two other troops killed in an attack by Palestinian fighters in southern Gaza Strip.



On Friday, a senior Israeli soldier said that a 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire with Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip had collapsed.



Earlier in the day, Israeli forces shelled Rafah city, leaving at least 40 Palestinians dead and more than 100 others injured.



Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip for almost four weeks, which killed at least 1458 Palestinians and injured more than 8300 others.



Israel claims that the offensive aims to undermine the ability of Palestinian factions to fire rockets at Israeli cities.



According to Israeli figures, at least 61 soldiers have been killed in battles with Palestinian fighters and three civilians by rocket fire.



Israel's military operation, codenamed "Operation Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populate Gaza Strip – which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – within the last six years.



By Ola Attalah



englishnews@aa.com.tr



www.aa.com.tr/en - Gazze