Gaza Offensive Continues on Monday: 345 Killed and Over 1650 Wounded

Tuesday December 30, 2008 00:23 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian medical sources in Gaza reported on Monday afternoon that four Palestinians, including a leader of the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, were killed in an Israeli Air Strike in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The death toll in Gaza is now standing at 345, while more than 1650 have been wounded.

Gaza Under Fire - Image by www.arabs48.com

The sources said that Ziad Abu Teir, of the al-Quds Brigades, and three other Palestinians were killed when the Israeli Army shelled Abasan Town, east of Khan Younis. Five residents, members of the same family were wounded.

The al-Quds Brigades said that Abu Teir is one of its prominent leaders, and that the army carried a series of intensive attacks that were described as the worst since the 1967 war.

On Monday morning, the ISraeli Army shelled a house adjacent to the house of Ismail Haniyya, the Prime Minister of the dissolved Hamas government in Gaza.

Also on Monday, the Israeli Army shelled the Ministry of Interior in Gaza, along with the Islamic University.

On Monday at dawn, two Palestinians were killed and eleven others were wounded in an Israeli air strike that targeted Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. A Qassam leader and his two sons, both underage, were killed.

Six more Palestinians were killed when the Israeli Army shelled a mosque in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Among the dead were four sisters, one of them was only four years old.

The ongoing Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip has resulted in the death of 345 Palestinians, while at least 1650 Palestinians have been wounded, 850 seriously wounded.

Palestinian armed groups continued their retaliation by firing several homemade shells at Sderot along with settlements in the Western Negev. The resistance also fired shells at the Nahal OZ military base; three Israeli soldiers were wounded. Two Israelis were killed in the Western Negev and in Ashkelon, while seven others were wounded, one seriously. In total, 14 Israelis have been  reportedly wounded, five seriously.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Minister stated on Monday morning that Israel is waging a war "against Hamas in Gaza and vowed further strikes."

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, said in a meeting for the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) that he will call for a meeting which includes all factions, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, in order to unite efforts to counter the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad are not members of the PLO; both movements said that they would join the organization if real reforms were implemented.

Death Toll 325 as Israeli Army Air Raids Continues to Pound Gaza

Monday December 29, 2008 14:27; Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC

Palestinian sources reported on Monday afternoon that two Israeli air raids targeted a mosque in Jabalia town, and two homes in Gaza City. 

Meanwhile, Palestinian medical sources in Gaza said that the death toll by Monday afternoon stood at 325, with 1500 injured, including 200 in critical condition.   

Today is the third day of the Israeli Army offensive that has been targeting Gaza. The Israeli Army has, so far, destroyed all the Palestinian Authority security buildings, in addition to bombing local mosques, schools and a university.

gaza strip | israeli attacks | news report saed at imemc dot org