Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian protestors during a clash in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Jan. 5, 2009. Palestinians on Monday held a protest in Hebron against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and clashed with Israeli soldiers.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
GAZA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Heavy and fierce gun battles took place on Monday night between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants in eastern and northern Gaza City, witnesses in Gaza said.
The witnesses said that they can hear heavy and intensive tanks shelling on the area known as Tufah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, adding that Israeli soldiers and militants were exchanging heavy gunfire in the area.
Resident of Gaza Mohamed el-Aklouk said dozens of shells were fired at eastern and northern Gaza city within less than 30 minutes, adding that several houses were destroyed in the area.
Palestinian boys throw stones at Israeli soldiers during a clash near the West Bank city of Hebron, on Jan. 5, 2009. Palestinians on Monday held a protest in Hebron against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and clashed with Israeli soldiers.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Rescue teams and paramedics told local radio stations that there were lots of fatalities in the area, adding that ambulances were not able to reach into the area due to the intensive tanks shelling.
F16 warplanes flew over Gaza city and hit several targets as the gun battle was still going on, said el-Aklouk, adding that most people in northern and western Gaza city kept indoors, hearing the heavy shelling and strikes.
A Palestinian boy catapults a stone at Israeli soldiers during a clash near the West Bank city of Hebron, on Jan. 5, 2009. Palestinians on Monday held a protest in Hebron against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and clashed with Israeli soldiers.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
Medical sources estimated that the death toll in Monday hit to 50 people and more than 150 wounded, most of them are civilians.
They said paramedics are waiting for a little calm to get into the area and rescue the people.
GAZA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Israeli tanks on Monday entered Zayton neighborhood in Gaza City, exchanging fire fiercely with Hamas militants, local witness said. Full story
GAZA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Sunday intensified strikes on the Gaza Strip for the ninth consecutive day, a day after its army carried out a large-scale ground operation into the enclave, leaving 514 people killed since Dec. 27.
Israeli warplanes struck by missiles dozens of targets into Gaza on Sunday as columns of tanks rolled deep into the enclave on Saturday night, cutting it into two separate areas, Hamas local Radio Station al-Aqsa Radio said. Full story
JERUSALEM, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- As Israeli ground troops fight their way in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, various signs indicate that the government and army have to accomplish a substantial achievement in what Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called an "unavoidable" incursion.
Under the cover of artillery and aerial fire, Israeli tanks rumbled into the coastal area on Saturday night with infantry troops, combat engineers and intelligence units, escalating the so-called Operation Cast Lead to its second phase in Israel's blistering efforts to end the continuing rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave. Full story
JERUSALEM, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The aim of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Cast Lead Operation in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip was to change the political and security situation in south Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday.
"We are striving for a new reality in which there won't be activity from Gaza against Israeli civilians or our soldiers, a situation which will dramatically change the state of smuggling and in which quiet will prevail in the south," said the defense minister. Full story
Smokes rise following an Israeli airstrike on an area known to have smuggling tunnels in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on the border with Egypt, Jan. 3, 2009.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
GAZA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Mo'aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency and ambulance services in the Palestinian Health Ministry, said that three more Palestinian paramedics were killed by Israeli airstrike on Sunday evening.
Hassanein said the three were rescuing the injured inside a house, which was damaged in southern Gaza City, where another airstrike took place, killing the paramedics. Full story
RABAT, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Scores of thousands of Moroccans took to the streets on Sunday in the capital Rabat to condemn the Israeli "barbarous" offensive on Gaza, and denounce the Arab and international silence.
There were fifty thousands according to police figures, and far more according to organizers, to take to Rabat's main streets and strongly denounce the Israeli raids, and call for the immediate halt of the offensive. Full story
RAMALLAH, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekaton Sunday accused Israel that it is burying the peace process after it enlarged military operations in the Gaza Strip and killed more than 500 Palestinians.
"The Israeli government is burying the peace process by escalating its military actions in the Gaza Strip," Erekat said in a statement sent to the press hours after Israel launched a ground operation into Gaza on Saturday night. Full story
JERUSALEM, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation against Palestinian militants in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip will be neither short nor easy, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Saturday evening.
Barak made the remarks while addressing the nation in a special televised press conference following the launch of the IDF ground incursion. Full story
