17 dead, 200 wounded in airstrike as Israel observes 'humanitarian lull'
Emergency services spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra said the strike hit a busy market in the battered Shejaiya neighbourhood, which lies between Gaza City and the border with Israel.
The strike came shortly after the Israeli army said it was observing a humanitarian lull that would be in force for four hours from 1200 GMT.
But it said the lull would not apply in areas where troops were "currently operating", in a move denounced as a publicity stunt by Hamas.
Thick black smoke billowed over the site as at least five ambulances raced to the scene where bodies lay strewn on the ground, an AFP correspondent said.
A bloodied, limp lifeless body lay in a pool of petrol and mud, his head crushed.
A nearby building belted out smoke, still on fire, and the street was strewn with debris.
Medics worked frantically to recover the wounded and dead, loading at least five bodies onto stretchers then driving them off in ambulances.
Among those lying on the ground was a man wearing a flak jacket marked "Press", although it was not immediately clear whether he was dead or wounded.
Bolivia declares Israel a terrorist state
Bolivia on Wednesday renounced a visa exemption agreement with Israel in protest over its offensive in Gaza, and declared it a terrorist state.
President Evo Morales announced the move during a talk with a group of educators in the city of Cochabamba.
It "means, in other words, we are declaring (Israel) a terrorist state," he said.
The treaty has allowed Israelis to travel freely to Bolivia without a visa since 1972.
Morales said the Gaza offensive shows "that Israel is not a guarantor of the principles of respect for life and the elementary precepts of rights that govern the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of our international community."
More than two weeks of fighting in Gaza have left 1,300 dead and 6,000 wounded amid an intense Israeli air and ground campaign in response to missile attacks by the Islamist militant group Hamas.
In the latest development, 16 people were killed after two Israeli shells slammed into a United Nations school, drawing international protests.
Bolivia broke off diplomatic relations with Israel in 2009 over a previous military operation in Gaza.
In mid-July, Morales filed a request with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to prosecute Israel for "crimes against humanity."
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great powers bring great responsibility. .... so if israel is militarily well equiped and trained then it has more responsibility to bring peace with neighbouring countries , no doubt hamas are not using their brains and indulge themselves in such conflicts, because of their callous &u n diplomatic attitude their people are suffering, &israel has not respect for humanity and human life, such issues cant be resolved by conflicts but by only diplomatic talks......Israel you are deeply the requested to stop continuing genocide & you hamas although u have a painful past but not spoil the future of your youths/children by unnecessarily involving in such conflicts.STOP BRUTALITY TOWARDS MANKIND , LIFE PRECIOUS AND IS GIVEN BY GOD ONCES, LIVE PEACEFULLY AND AMIACABILY
@ModiFied: I totally agree with you. Hammas is solely responsible for all this carnage.
@ModiFied: Please read Gaza 101..
How terrible is the Israeli attack? 1300 killed. But in order to understand whether they are civilians or not, one need to categorise the people killed according to age, gender and possibly religious affiliation, and compare it to the overall population. In Gaza, nearly 50% are children, with slightly more being female. What are the statistics for the dead Palestinians
Using 1000 killed as reference: So, if Israeli killings were random. About half should be children (500) and half should be women (500) (or if you prefer 250 female children plus 500 women=750)
The facts are: "According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, of the 928 fatalities who had been identified by name as of 10 A.M. yesterday, 764 were civilians, and they included 215 children and 118 women." http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.607331
So let us translate these numbers into data based on 1000: 180 were recognized "non-civilians" , leaving 830, 83% to be "civilians" So what are status among the "civilians": 28% were children, i.e., much less than the 50% expected. 15% were women, but it should have been nearly 50%
So very simply: Israelis target adult males
@WB: If you are so noble and have love for people being killed all over the world then why don't you ask your troops to end occupation of Indian-occupied Kashmir. You support Israel because subconsciously you are aware of the atrocities being carried out by Indians against Muslims in Indian-occupied Kashmir. First resolve the issue of Dalits and Naxals then come and criticize Pakistan.
@mimi sur:
Yes, the terrorists must be crushed because the word is sick of sick-minded people living in Pakistan's eastern neighborhood.
How if Israel don't even give them the basic right as a clean drinkable water houses everyday a new illegal sattlement come on @ModiFied:
@WB:
Well for your information Mr WB, Walid Au Ali, Palestinian ambassador to Pakistan, has said that 45,000 Palestinian students have graduated from Pakistani universities so far. Pakistan does not share borders with Palestine, yet we have always welcomed Palestinian brothers and sisters in our country. Pakistan is the country with highest number of Afghan refugees. Around 200,000 Rohingya Muslims are living in Pakistan. Come to Pakistan, you will see the number of Bengali people living in Karachi.
India is a secular country right and it shares borders with Burma in the East, then I wonder why it has not given refuge to Rohingya Muslims? Oh, yes it reminds me of what happened with Kashmiri Muslim students in India few months back? Bigot, yep.
I am amazed why people don't curse these Arab states that are close to Gaza and helping Israel kill more Palestinians: Saudi Arabia launched ISIS and Jubatun Nusra on Iraq, Syria, Lebanon to engage Hizbullah and Iran, all to protect Israel, Egypt for keep closing the Rafah border for even humanitarian assistance, UAE for sending 50 spy medics to Gaza spying for Israel and when caught fled the area to Egypt, Qatar for showing Israeli atrocities on Aljazeera and hosting an impotent UN sec gen meeting practically doing nothing, Jordan for assisting ISIS training camps and keeping mum on Gaza. All of these Arabs are partners in crimes Israel is committing ignoring their turn is even closer.
@Solomon2: u r very right, but only if we switch places of Israel and Hamas in ur statement.
@ModiFied: Are u really serious?Do u even know who controls the Shores of Gaza?Turning Gaza into Singapore is a far cry. Let Israeli bullies allow the fishermen of Gaza to go out into the sea up to 20nm as agreed upon in Oslo accord and its subsequent agreements. Its Gaza's offshore oil and gas reserves that makes israel's mouth watery forcing it into blockade and not the rockets of hamas
And the biggest dishonesty on the face of the earth is when Pakistanis cry for Gazans and Rohingyas and others but never open their doors to the refugees from these places.
By the way, Biharis are still rotting in Bangladesh. Biharis are suffering for supporing Paksitan in 1971. Why did you not take them?
Because Pakistanis are bigots?
Satyamurphy don't talk rubbish please read up what the great mahatma ghandhi said about the creation of Israel and his warnings for what would happen. And don't make ill informed comments based on your prejudices. anyone can look at history and make the conclusion that this is an apartheid racist regime of Israel who for 70 years has oppressed and slaughtered the Palestinians.
Long live Israel . Now Start crushing each terrorist one by one . World is sick of these terrorists .
@wow logic!: He went to the terrorist school of Israel
@Satyamurthy:
If you have ever been to Pakistan, then you would have had seen how Muslims formed human chain outside a church to express solidarity with the victims of the Peshawar church attack. If you have ever visited Pakistan, then you would have had seen how everyone (including Pakistanis commenting in ET) have condemned the recent attack on Ahmadis. Pakistanis have the courage to stand up and voice their opinion for the support of all occupied countries be it Palestine or Indian-occupied Kashmir. Before commenting on our double standards, you should feel ashamed of yourself as no Indian has the guts to condemn the atrocities being carried out by Israel in Palestine. At least develop courage to stand up for humanity.
ET please publish.
@ModiFied: Really absurd arguments. Can you develop an area or country while besieged from all sides? Total restrictions on the movement of humans and material by Israel, with an Istaeli security post at the Rafha border crossing with Israel. Hamas said correctly that there will be no cease fire this time without total lifting of blockade by Israel. In the last cease fire, Israel had agreed to this lifting - but as usual it didn't comply.
@ModiFied: Eid Mubarak! Would they have allowed it??? "They" meaning USA, UK, Europe, and Israel. Next time, please think twice. Salams
Why don't our leaders have enough balls to call Israel a terrorist state? Why are the Saudis quiet? Why can't be openly say that hey Israel, you are waging a spineless war against innocent civilians!
When your country is not safe for minorities and they are killed everyday.I can see everyday gaza like situation in pakistan.You people do not stand for your own minorities.What you people have right to comment on Gaza.You people are double standard people and shame on you pakistani.
Just few days back three people were killed which they belong to muslim minority sect.They were made accussed of making them blasphemy against islam in facebook.You people never raised your voice for them and you people speaking about humanity.When your own country is not safe for minorities and what difference between pakistan and israel.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Not true. Israel always controlled the boarders of Ghazza. Besides building a 20 ft wall around it
@logic? In 2005 there was a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and West Bank , including many settlements as well. But what did the Hamas do? It used the opportunity not to do any good for its people but it chose to bomb Israel. Then Israel retaliated back. Palestenians teach their children extreme hate of Israel and the west, not any real education. Even second in command of Hamas has said using human shields has proven to be a successful strategy as it turns the world opinion against Israel. Recently, Hamas shot and injured at least 30 people who protested against them for bringing this destruction to them. Even neigh hours like Egypt and Jordan are sick and tired of Palestenians .
@Logic?:
Its useless, you are talking to an Indian here. They support Israel no matter what happens. Reason? Because Internet Indians comprise mostly of sell soul, in humane, greedy cheerleaders who support anyone that can provide them with military technology. They can cry a river of crocodile tears if they see an Israeli youth hurt but will not shed a single one or even express any remorse if they see 100 children killed in gaza yet call it justified.
Shame on you Indians, at-least give the world a proof that you people still have tiny bit of humanity left.
@ModiFied: Man!! you deserve a 21-gun-saute for the comment you've made.
What world are you living in? Have you ever had a chance to read history?
I don't know whether I should laugh or cry at the kind of sense that is prevailing inside your mind
@ModiFied:
Resistance is a human instinct against oppression. Hamas and Palestinians who does not have a single tank a single jet fighter, no army, no navy or airforce are in no position to initiate any fight with Israel. War is imposed on them and they have every right to resist with whatever means. History will regard them as great heroes who died but didn't bowed against evil might.
@ModiFied: Quite right.... and think of all the tourism they're just throwing away. They could open up Casinos on the beaches and night clubs and all. In fact, they could turn it into Dubai, with Skiing and fine dining...and amusement parks.
Come to think of it.... why didnt they start up a full-blown Hollywood style film industry....and a Cannes style film festival.
How silly of them to not think of any of these things, shame they didnt have you to talk some sense into them!
Instead they just keep complaining about living in a prison camp with a lack of basic human necessities and having Israel constantly eating their land and killing their citizens.... no vision at all!
Idiot!
I guess even Israeli weapons need a little time to cool down...
They guys who justify this genocide claim themselves civilised. shame on this civilised world.
When Gaza and West Bank got their self rule, for first two years there was no blockade. Billions of dollars were poured in both parts for development. Things turned bad when Hamas took over Gaza and killed hundreds of Al-Fatah supporters. There is no problem in killing your Muslim brothers but sending rockets on a very powerful country is a different ball game.
@ Modified - Israel kills 1300 plus civilians in a couple of days and Palestinians don't have brains?seriously?what school did you go to?
@ModiFied: WOW! If you are going to pretend to be ignorant of the facts, you should try harder. You probably have never seen a map of the occupied territories to understand the constraints!
Some said airstrike, some said tank fire, others said artillery. But the twitpic of a weapon casing recovered from the market is of a mortas - the same type of mortar used to bombard Israel from Gaza: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Btzi882IgAI3Xaq.png:large.
Hamas: No pictures of planes. Rampant harassment of journalists. Thought control of the populace. Israel: Humanitarian cease fire declared.
What would Israel gain by attacking a market under such circumstances compared to the propaganda windfall Hamas would have gained by doing so?
@ModiFied: Have you heard about the economic / financial blockade ? Have you heard of illegal occupation ?
Real sad for the loss of life and property in Gaza. However, Israel alone can not be held responsible. Hamas and its Palestinian supporters are equally responsible. Had Palestinians used their brain, they would have created Gaza into a Singapore of middle east. Gaza has everything to make it a Singapore. Its located in the shores of Mediterranean and borders Israel and Egypt. Wish good sense prevails and Gaza develops into a most modern city state some day.