A 12-hour ceasefire is under way in Gaza after Israel and Hamas agreed a temporary truce on humanitarian grounds.
Parts of Gaza came under heavy bombardment, with explosions and black smoke rising above Gaza City, minutes before the break in hostilities.
Israeli tank shelling killed 18 members of the same Palestinian family in the southern Gaza Strip, said Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al Qidra.
The Al Najar family had been trapped inside their house in Khuzaa village, east of Khan Younis, for two days when the shells hit, he said.
A Palestinian woman stands outside destroyed homes in Shejaia, Gaza Doctors in Gaza said 35 bodies have been pulled from rubble since the ceasefire started at 8am (6am UK time).
Israel has warned it will keep targeting tunnels and fight back if its troops or civilians are attacked during the brief respite from 18 days of violence.
The ceasefire, which appears to be holding, comes after Israel suggested it is preparing to "broaden" its ground assault on Gaza after reportedly rejecting an international plan for a week-long truce.
US Secretary of State John Kerry remains "confident progress can be made" on a seven-day truce that would "bring people together to create a more durable plan".
Smoke billows from Gaza City after Israeli airstrikes However, on Friday evening Israel's defence minister told troops: "You need to be ready for the possibility that very soon we will instruct the military to significantly broaden the ground operation in Gaza."
Ahead of the truce, eight Palestinians were killed by an airstrike in Gaza and Israeli troops shot dead two teenagers in continuing West Bank protests in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Nasri Mahmud Paqatqa, 16, was killed and five others wounded in a clash at the village of Beit Fajar, south of Bethlehem, and 18-year-old Bassem Abu Rub died in a protest at the Jalama military checkpoint in the northern West Bank, Palestinian officials told AFP.
In Gaza, two Israeli soldiers were killed in fighting on Friday evening, the army confirmed.
A map showing the areas of conflict and violence Mr Kerry is now heading to Paris for international talks on a ceasefire, with Britain, Germany, Turkey and Qatar among those attending.
He told a news conference in Cairo a "fundamental framework" for peace was in place and that it would "ultimately succeed".
"The world is watching tragic moment after tragic moment unfold and is wondering when everybody is going to come to their senses," said Mr Kerry.
An unnamed source from the Israeli government said they were seeking modifications as the truce proposal "leans too much towards Hamas demands".
John Kerry speaks with Qatar's Foreign Minister about the truce Speaking alongside Mr Kerry, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said there had been "tireless efforts" to bring both sides to the table, and that the people of Gaza have "bled enough".
"They are trapped… living under constant fear of rocket attacks," he said. "Surely now, all parties must realise it's time to act."
Some 140,000 people have fled Gaza since the latest conflict began on July 8.
More than 880 Palestinians, many of them civilians, have lost their lives.
Three civilians have died in Israel from rocket fire, while 37 Israeli soldiers have been killed during combat.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Gaza: 12-Hour 'Humanitarian Truce' Under Way
Dengan url
http://malurasanya.blogspot.com/2014/07/gaza-12-hour-humanitarian-truce-under.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Gaza: 12-Hour 'Humanitarian Truce' Under Way
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Gaza: 12-Hour 'Humanitarian Truce' Under Way
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar