Israeli TV, Channel 10, reported that Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is holding talks with different world leaders, including U.S. President, Barack Obama, to ensure international support as Israel widens and intensifies its escalation against the Gaza Strip.Channel 10 reported that Netanyahu phoned Obama, and informed him on the details of the current Israeli military escalation against the coastal region.
It added that Netanyahu will also be contacting several world leaders in an attempt to ensure support for Israel’s offensive.
Netanyahu’s office stated that the Israeli Prime Minister “is deeply grateful to Obama” for understanding why the Israel decided to launch a large-scale offensive against Gaza.
Netanyahu also phoned vice-president, Joe Biden, and E.U Foreign Policy Chief, Catherine Ashton.
It is worth mentioning that Israel’s President, Shimon Peres, also phoned Obama, and told him that “southern Israel has been under rocket attack since last week”.
Obama said that he understands why Israel is carrying out its offensive against Gaza, and expressed full support to Tel Aviv.
This is happening while Israel killed, on Wednesday, eight Palestinians, including children, and injured more than 85 Palestinians, including several children, infants and women.
The slain Palestinians were identified as Hamas leader, Ahmad al-Ja’bari, 52; his deputy, Mohammad al-Hamss, 30; Ranaan Yousef Arafat, 3; Mohammad Hani Kaseeh, 18; Isam Mahmoud Abu al-Ma’za, 19; Hiba Adel al-Mash-Harawi, 19; Omar Jihad al-Mash-Harawi, 11 months; and Mahmoud Abu Sawaween, 65.
Eighty-five Palestinians, including 17 children and 12 women, have been injured by Israeli fire and shells, while 14 of the wounded suffered very serious injuries and are currently in intensive care units in different hospitals in Gaza.
On Thursday at dawn, three Palestinian fighters were assassinated in an Israeli air Strike in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the West Bank.
The bodies of the slain fighters have been severely mutilated; two them were identified as Wael al-Ghalban and Habes Masmah.
As Israel’s offensive is expanding, targeting different areas in the Gaza Strip, bombarding homes and crowded streets.
Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza claimed responsibility for firing dozens of rockets and shells hitting nearby Israeli areas, in addition to an Israeli military base near Ashdod.
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War Officially Started; “Eight Palestinians killed In Gaza Wednesday, 60 Injured”