Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault
UNITED NATIONS, July 5 (Xinhua) -- UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned on Wednesday that the situation in the
Middle East could be explosive, and urged the parties in the region to avert
further escalation.
In a statement released here by his spokesman, Annan,
who is on a visit visit in Ghana, once again condemned the firing of rockets
from Gaza into Israel, such as the one which struck a school in the town of
Ashkelon on Tuesday.
He also called again on the Israeli government to
refrain from actions that amount to collective punishment of Palestinian
civilians, and to ensure delivery of fuel, commodities and other essentials into
Gaza.
The secretary-general again reminded the Israeli
government and the Palestinian Authority of their obligations under
international humanitarian law regarding the protection of civilians and
civilian infrastructure, and called for the immediate release of Israeli soldier
Gilad Shalit, who is being held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
"The situation is dangerous and could be explosive,"
Annan said, urging all parties concerned to step back from the brink.
It is reported that Palestinian militants fired two
more rockets at Israeli southern coastal city Ashkelon Wednesday evening,
following the first such attack on Tuesday. Enditem
Latest related
stories: Israeli army enlarges ground operation into
Gaza Strip
An Israeli self-propelled howitzer fires shells at the northern border of Gaza Strip, July 5，2006.
An urgent meeting of Israeli security cabinet convened by Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert decided on Wednesday to expand the ongoing military operation
in the Gaza Strip in reaction to stepped-up Palestinian rocket attack. (Xinhua
Photo) |
GAZA, July 5 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army enlarged on
Wednesday night its ground operation into northern Gaza Strip by sending more
tanks, personnel carriers and armored vehicles as well as troops into the area,
witnesses and security sources said.
The Israeli Television channel II, meanwhile, quoted
Israeli army officials as confirming the operation, saying that the army
operation would be called "the Sword of Gil'ad", in reference to the captive
Israeli soldier Gil'ad Shalit by Palestinian militant groups.
The officials told the TV channel that the aim of the
operation "the Sword of Gil'ad" is to prevent militants from launching homemade
rockets from northern Gaza Strip at southern Israel.
Full story>>
Rocket hit Israeli southern city
again
People stand by the remains of a Kassam rocket in Ashkelon, coastal city of Israel on July 5, 2006. The second Kassam rocket fired from the northern Gaza Strip landed in Ashkelon on Wednesday
within two days and eight people suffering from shock were sent to local
hospital. (Xinhua Photo) |
JERUSALEM, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian militants
fired two more rockets on Israeli southern coastal city Ashkelon Wednesday
evening, following the first suck attack on Tuesday, local newspaper Ha'aretz
reported.
According to the report, one of the rockets slammed
into a southern neighborhood of the city and the second landed in the Kibbutz
Zikim area. Full story>>
