Palestinian medical sources have reported that one Palestinian was killed, and around thirty Palestinians, including women and children, have been injured, some seriously, as the Israeli army continues its escalation against the Gaza Strip.Medical centers and hospital in the Gaza Strip declared a state of emergency due to high numbers of casualties among the Palestinians.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qodra, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said one Palestinian, identified as Rashad Yassin, was killed in an Israeli bombardment in the Nusseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza.
He added that rescue teams are still searching for another Palestinian, believed to have been buried under the rubble of bombarded buildings, in the camp.
Media sources in Gaza said Israeli F-16 fighter jets, and Apache helicopters have repeatedly targeted several cities, towns and refugee camps.
At least four Palestinians have been moderately wounded in Beit Hanoun, and were moved to a nearby hospital.
A Palestinian woman, in her fifties, was also wounded in an Israeli strike on Deir al-Balah, and was moved to the al-Aqsa Hospital.
The Israeli army also bombarded two mosques in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said “the enemy will realize it crossed all red lines”, and warned of what it called “an expanded level of retaliation, that the enemy would never expect”, according to a statement by the Brigades.
It stated that declaring a large military offensive on Gaza does not scare the fighters who will retaliate “and shake the grounds under the enemies”.
The Brigades also claimed responsibility for firing several shells into Israeli areas, and warned that “Israel needs to understand, its aggression against the Palestinians will be met by fierce retaliation”.
Israeli sources said nine Israelis have been hurt in Ashdod, and that Palestinians sells also struck areas in Asqalan, Be’er as-Sabe’, Sderot, and many settlements in the Negev.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the army to conduct what he called “long, forceful and ongoing” offensive on Gaza. He added that Israel is not ruling out the option of a ground offensive and invasion into the Gaza Strip.
Gaza legislator Ismael al-Ashqar said the resistance will not grant Israel a truce, and that such a truce can only be achieved when Israel stops its aggression, and ends the siege.
