Israeli offensive continues, over 577 killed and 2,700 wounded

Tuesday January 06, 2009 05:30 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

A Palestinian woman and her four children were killed in a recent Israeli air strike in Gaza, and more Palestinian civilians are being killed by the hour as the Israeli Army continues its air strikes and ground offensive against the residents of Gaza. At least 577 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed and more than 2,700 wounded.

Medical sources in Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported that an Israeli missile struck a Palestinian home in Al Zeitoun neighborhood east of Gaza City killing a woman and her children.

The sources said that seven members of the Al Sammouni family, including four children, were killed when the Israeli Army shelled their home while invading the area. Other members of the family said that the army also shelled a nearby home inflicting more casualties among the civilians as the house was overcrowded.

An eyewitness reported that at least twenty residents were in the home when it was attacked. The eyewitness added that on Sunday, the Israeli Army ordered residents to gather in the house of Arafat Al Sammouni, and on Monday the soldiers shelled the crowded property.

Also, the Israeli Army shelled a mourning house filled with civilians and killed four Palestinians. Several similar attacks were reported in Gaza.

Furthermore, paramedics said on Monday that they located three bodies in Al Atatra area, west of Beit Lahia, and that several residents are believed to be under the rubble of shelled homes.

Sources at Al Shifa hospital in Gaza reported that the bodies of seven members of Abu Aisha family were severely mutilated after the Israeli Army shelled their home in Al Mashtal area, west of Al Shaty’ refugee camp in Gaza.

The sources added that the casualties included a father, a mother and their five children. They were killed on Sunday night after the Israeli Navy fired missiles at their home, and a number of nearby homes.

The Israelis also shelled dozens of homes in Al Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City killing a five-year old child and her grandfather. Her mother was seriously wounded.

On Sunday after midnight, the Israeli Army shelled five homes belonging to Hamas political leaders, and one home that belonged to Jamil Mzhir, a political leader of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

The Israelis also shelled a college in Al Shaty’s refugee camp causing two injuries.

Hasan Khalaf of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, said that the number of Palestinians killed due to the ongoing Israeli offensive is now over 577 residents, including 70 who were killed in the ground offensive. Among the casualties were 107 children and 36 women; at least 2,700 residents were wounded.

The ground offensive was launched on Sunday evening.  So far over 70 residents, including 21 children and 11 women have been killed and over 371 wounded.

gaza strip | israeli attacks | news report saed at imemc dot org