Asia

Home page

Asia

Death toll in Gaza passes 900

12 January 2009 10:08 (UTC +04:00)

Gazaâ€“APA. Israeli army continues military operations in Gaza Strip. Israeli warplanes are bombing now the south-western part of Gaza, APA reports. Syrian army fired on the Israeli forces deployed in Golan Heights, Israeli army said. No casualties were reported. The Israeli aviation also bombed the humanitarian aid convoy headed to the Gaza Strip. Several vehicles were damaged and no human sufferings were reported. The humanitarian aid reached the Gaza Strip in the morning on Monday.
Palestinian sources said 900 people were killed 3700 wounded in the military operations so far. Israeli army said 40 HAMAS fighters were killed last night, but Gaza sources said most of them were women and children.
Israeli forces launched a rocket attack on the building of the Ministry of Culture in Gaza. One of the HAMAS missiles fired toward Israelâ€™s territory landed in the house of the chief of Sderot municipal administration. Israel announced it would send addition forces to the region. The last night operations caused tensions between Israel and Egypt. Four Egyptian citizens, including two policemen, were killed in the air strikes on the bordering areas with Egypt. The Egyptian officials said despite the bombardments they wouldnâ€™t close Rafah checkpoint and would allow the humanitarian air vehicles to enter into the Gaza Strip. The wounded Palestinians are also taken to Egypt via this checkpoint. The Egyptian health ministry said it prepared 22 hospitals to receive the Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the operations would go on. He rejected appeals for a ceasefire and said the operations would continue until elimination of threat for Israelisâ€™ life.