Palestinians carry the bodies of two boys Gaza – Mohammed Habib The Israeli offensive intensified on Tuesday: 30 Palestinians have been killed in less than 24 hours, raising the death toll to 138 dead and more than 1100 injured. Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades have vowed that Israel will pay for its aggression, as Israeli media has announced that a rocket hit the city of Rishon LeZion, injuring 10 people and seriously damaging buildings. Urging patience, Hamas has also denied that a truce agreement has been reached.
An Israeli radio reported that 16 Israelis – including 11 soldiers -- have been killed since the beginning of the offensive. More than 635 have been injured, according to the same source.
Israeli radio reported that Israel death toll since the start of the continuous war, eight days ago, climbed to 16 including 11 soldiers while the injured reached 635.
In the latest airstrike against the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources announced the death of two in an airstrike on Deir al-Balah in the centre of the Gaza Strip. One man was injured in the strike.
Two brothers were also killed in the al-Jeneya district of Rafah in south Gaza.
Three people were killed in an air raid on the al-Shejaeia district and 20 more sustained injuries, five of which were described as serious.
Two more children were killed and another three were injured in an airstrike targeting Keshku St. in Gaza City, while a man was killed in a raid on Beit Hanoun.
Three journalists were killed on Tuesday evening in two separate airstrikes in Gaza City and Deir al-Balah.
Two al-Aqsa satellite channel cameramen were killed earlier when the channel team was targeted in the al-Shefaa area in central Gaza. Their car, emblazoned with a distinctive phosphorescent marking, was bombed by Israeli aeroplanes. Two other people were injured in the attack
The Al-Aqsa channel mourned their losses, saying that the targeting of channel staff comes following an unprecedented campaign of incitement against the satellite channel by the Zionist occupation and attempts to jam its signal.
“The two colleagues were martyred in the line of duty,” the channel said, stressing that it will continue to perform its mission regardless of the price.
Local residents said: “Occupation aeroplanes fired two missiles at two vehicles that were travelling at the bottom of al-Seanaa St. in the al-Sabra district in the south of Gaza City, killing six Palestinians and seriously injuring five others.
The Gazan Ambulance and Emergency Committee announced earlier that a man was killed and three others seriously injured in an Israeli airstrike in the east of Gaza City.
A Palestinian man died on Tuesday in an Egyptian hospital after being injured in the Gaza Strip Sunday.
“One rocket landed in the city of Rishon LeZion, injuring 10 Israeli and completely destroying two seven-storey buildings,” Israeli’s Channel 10’s Tel Aviv reporter said.
The channel also reported the city’s mayor as saying that it was a “miracle” that “so many Israelis survived,” indicating that “a real massacre was expected.”
According to the same channel, there are fears that a whole building might collapse after part of the top storey broke off and with a fire raging in other storeys due to a rocket strike on Tuesday evening. Fire also destroyed 15 vehicles that were parked outside the targeted building.
Meanwhile, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades Director General Mohammed Deif described Israel’s killing Jabari and Israel’s aggression on the Gaza Strip as “an act of foolishness.”
In a speech delivered on Tuesday, Deif said that Israel “must pay a heavy price for its aggression.” The al-Qassam commander called on brigade members to “give all and hurt the enemy,” urging them to “trust God’s support.”
Al-Deif also said the possible ground offensive against the Gaza Strip would be “the great hope for liberating our captives.”
Speaking about the al-Qassam Brigades’ rocket campaign against Israel, al-Deif said “Shale Stones came after a great deal of sweat, work and effort after al-Furqan War, which is the beginning of the liberation of Palestine.”
The Battle of al-Furqan is the name given by Palestinian resistance faction of Israel’s 2008 Operation Cast Lead against the Gaza Strip.
The al-Qassam leader also called on the Arab and Muslim Ummah to “gather its energies to obliterate and purge Palestine and the al-Aqsa mosque of the occupation.”
For its part, Hamas has denied receiving an Israeli response regarding an Egyptian-sponsored ceasefire.
Movement spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri has urged patience, saying that the Egyptian administration will announce the truce agreement once it is reached. He also demanded the resistance to “continue to respond to the constant Israeli crimes committed against unarmed civilians in Gaza.”
Abu Zuhri’s remarks come amid conflicting reports in the Egyptian capital regarding the arrival at an Egyptian-brokered lull agreement between Israel and the Palestinian resistance that some sources say may come into effect tonight.
Hamas Politburo Spokesperson Izzat al-Rishq denied Tuesday in a Facebook statement that an agreement has been reached, dismissing the possibility of a breakthrough tonight.
The Hamas official said “all possibilities are open” regarding the truce and that “the Palestinian people and its resistance are prepared for all possibilities.”