Special report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts
JERUSALEM, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Israel has decided to open a border crossing on Wednesday afternoon to allow humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip, local daily Ha'aretz reported.
Over 100 truckloads of humanitarian aid donated by foreign groups are expected to pass the Kerem Shalom crossing into the coastal territory, which has been devastated by massive Israeli air strikes since Saturday, said the report.
On Tuesday, some 100 trucks carrying donated resources, including food and medicine, were allowed into the impoverished enclave through the same crossing, along with several ambulances, added the report.
Earlier Wednesday, the Jewish state turned down a French proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire aimed to provide humanitarian aid for the some 1.5 million Gaza residents.
"Gaza is not undergoing a humanitarian crisis. We're constantly supplying it with food and medications, and there's no need for a humanitarian cease-fire," an aide to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Also on Wednesday, Israeli's Supreme Court ruled in favor of a petition filed by the Foreign Press Association against an order barring foreign journalists from entering Gaza, ordering authorities to allow a limited number of them into the strip to report the other side of the story.
Over 380 people have so far been killed and more than 1,600 others injured since the Jewish state kicked off the still ongoing massive air strikes on Saturday. UN officials said that at least 25percent of the dead were civilians.
Despite Israel's devastating air raids, Gazan militants continued firing rockets and mortar shells at southern Israel on Wednesday, among which some landed in the major southern city of Beersheba, about 37 kilometers from Gaza. Since Saturday, the barrage has caused four deaths and over a dozen injuries on the Israeli side.
China calls for immediate cease-fire in Gaza
BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- China is deeply concerned at the current situation in Gaza,and hopes parties involved could immediately halt the armed conflict, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said here on Tuesday.
China is deeply concerned over the ongoing armed conflict in Gaza, Qin said at a regular press conference. Full story
UN chief: Continued violence in and around Gaza "unacceptable"
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- UN Chief Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that he was deeply alarmed by the current escalation of violence in and around Gaza, and that such continued violence is "unacceptable." Full story
U.S. insists on "durable, sustainable" ceasefire between Hamas and Israel
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday reiterated its call for a "durable and sustainable" ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants ruling the Gaza Strip.
"The ceasefire, in order to be productive, has to be maintained," State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid told reporters. "It can't be a ceasefire in which one side uses it to launch periodic attacks." Full story
Israeli army denies report of plan to propose 48-hour Gaza truce
 |
|
An Israeli soldier stands on the hood of a military vehicle near the border with the Gaza Strip Dec. 28, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
JERUSALEM, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Tuesday denied a report that the Israeli defense establishment will recommend a 48-hour truce with Hamas.
"The report is not true, our plan is to continue the Gaza operation," an IDF spokeswoman told Xinhua on the phone. Full story
Israel pounds Gaza for 4th day, rejecting truce appeals
JERUSALEM, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Tuesday rejected worldwide appeals for a truce as its air strikes on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip went on for a fourth day.
The operation, dubbed Cast Lead, continued early Tuesday, with at least 10 people killed and 40 others wounded when Israeli war planes bombed a series of Gaza targets, according to Palestinian reports. Full story
More related stories >>>
