Israeli atrocities: Death toll swells to 103 as Gaza truce efforts waver
President Obama offers to facilitate a cessation of hostilities.
JERUSALEM:
Israel’s aerial bombardment of Gaza claimed its 103rd Palestinian life on Friday as Hamas pounded central Israel with rockets and Washington offered to help broker a truce.
Diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities between Israel and Hamas militants gathered pace, with US President Barack Obama phoning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities,” the White House said.
But Netanyahu remained resolute, saying he would not end his campaign until he achieved his goal of stopping the Hamas fire. “No international pressure will prevent us from striking the terrorists who are attacking us,” he told a news conference in Tel Aviv.
“I had a very good conversation with President Obama and other leaders,” he added. “All of these leaders understand the need to act.”
Raising fears of an expanded conflict, at least one rocket fired from Lebanon struck an open area in northern Israel early on Friday.
Despite mounting international concerns, truce efforts were falling on deaf ears, according to Egypt, which has played a key role in mediating previous Hamas-Israel ceasefires.
“Egypt has communicated with all sides to halt violence against civilians and called on them to continue with the truce agreement signed in November 2012,” the foreign ministry said. “Unfortunately, these efforts... have met with stubbornness.”
Netanyahu has reportedly said that talks for a ceasefire were ‘not even on the agenda’.
UN raises concerns
As Israel continues its offensive in Gaza, the UN's human rights office has said that Tel Aviv could be violating the laws of war by bombing Palestinian homes in Gaza.
“We have received disturbing reports that many of the civilian casualties, including of children, occurred as a result of strikes on homes," said spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani. “Such reports raise doubts about whether the Israeli air strikes have been in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2014.
Israel’s aerial bombardment of Gaza claimed its 103rd Palestinian life on Friday as Hamas pounded central Israel with rockets and Washington offered to help broker a truce.
Diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities between Israel and Hamas militants gathered pace, with US President Barack Obama phoning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities,” the White House said.
But Netanyahu remained resolute, saying he would not end his campaign until he achieved his goal of stopping the Hamas fire. “No international pressure will prevent us from striking the terrorists who are attacking us,” he told a news conference in Tel Aviv.
“I had a very good conversation with President Obama and other leaders,” he added. “All of these leaders understand the need to act.”
Raising fears of an expanded conflict, at least one rocket fired from Lebanon struck an open area in northern Israel early on Friday.
Despite mounting international concerns, truce efforts were falling on deaf ears, according to Egypt, which has played a key role in mediating previous Hamas-Israel ceasefires.
“Egypt has communicated with all sides to halt violence against civilians and called on them to continue with the truce agreement signed in November 2012,” the foreign ministry said. “Unfortunately, these efforts... have met with stubbornness.”
Netanyahu has reportedly said that talks for a ceasefire were ‘not even on the agenda’.
UN raises concerns
As Israel continues its offensive in Gaza, the UN's human rights office has said that Tel Aviv could be violating the laws of war by bombing Palestinian homes in Gaza.
“We have received disturbing reports that many of the civilian casualties, including of children, occurred as a result of strikes on homes," said spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani. “Such reports raise doubts about whether the Israeli air strikes have been in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2014.