Israel bombards Gaza with air raids and shelling
- In Reports
- 08:48 PM, May 14, 2021
- Myind Staff
Israel continues to bombarded Gaza strip with air strikes and artillery on Friday after Hamas fired another barrage of rockets towards Israel, hitting the city of Ashkelon in the early hours on Friday.
Despite international calls for an immediate halt of all hostilities, including from United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged the offensive will continue “as needed to restore calm in the state of Israel”.
Israel’s Defense Minister has approved the mobilisation of 9,000 more reservist troops amid fighting with Hamas and Israel’s military spokesman says forces are massing on the border with the Gaza Strip.
At least 122 Palestinians, including 31 children, have been killed and more than 900 wounded since hostilities flared up on Monday, according to Aljazeera.
Earlier in the evening, Israel's army said a soldier has shot and killed a Palestinian who tried to ram his car into a military post in the occupied West Bank, then got out and attempted to stab the soldier. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the death, but no other details were immediately available.
Hundreds of Palestinian families have taken shelter in United Nations-run schools in northern Gaza to escape Israeli artillery fire, with residents reporting that the Strip had experienced its “most violent” night.
Israeli Justice Minister Benny Gantz has called on the chiefs of big social media platforms to quickly remove content from their sites that incites violence or spreads disinformation.
Meanwhile, global forces are trying to stop the violence from both the sides and to maintain peace.
Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan called on the United Nations and Muslim countries on Friday to halt the worst fighting between Israel and Gaza militants in years, saying Turkey would support any UN initiative to end the violence.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate ceasefire.
In a tweet in Arabic and Hebrew, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a ceasefire and said, "the cycle of violence in the Middle East must stop. I strongly call for a ceasefire and for dialogue. I call for calm and peace."
Israel began heavy artillery shelling in the northern Gaza Strip ahead of a possible ground invasion. Palestinian armed groups have fired about 1,800 rockets this week. Community violence continues in Israel for a fourth consecutive night, reported AFP.
On April 16, Israel limits the number of people who can prayer at Al-Aqsa — considered the third holiest mosque in Islam — in East Jerusalem to 10,000 people. Clashes subsequently erupted and spread to Gaza and the West Bank.
(Inputs from Agencies)
Image: The Indian Express
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