As the Israeli aggression on Gaza intensifies, Palestinian medical sources have reported that at least 16 Palestinians, including children, have been injured in different parts of the coastal region, as the Israeli army fired missiles into homes and civilian structures.Israeli sources said the offensive on Gaza would be “gradually escalated”, and could eventually be “turned into a comprehensive war”.
Media sources in Gaza said Israeli war jets initially fire a smaller missile into each home, in what Israel regards as a warning shot, although its directly hits the property, before another bigger missile, or missiles, hit the property again.
One home was completely destroyed after being hit by Israeli missiles, in Abasan town, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Several injuries have been reported, and many nearby homes were damaged.
In Rafah, in southern Gaza, the army fired a missile into a home belonging to a member of the Hashshah family, causing several injuries and excessive damage.
Nine more Palestinians have been injured when the Israeli Air Force bombarded their homes in the al-Qarara town, northeast of Khan Younis. The army also fired “a smaller missile” before firing a larger missile that destroyed the property.
The nine wounded Palestinians have been moved to Nasser Hospital, in Khan Younis, suffering moderate injuries.
Two more Palestinians were seriously injured when the army bombarded Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, and were moved to the al-Aqsa Hospital for treatment.
Missiles have also been fired into farmlands near Salah Ed-Deen Road, in Deir al-Balah, causing excessive damage to property, and a number of nearby homes.
In addition, F16 Israeli war jets fired missiles into an agricultural land, in the Tuffah neighborhood, northeast of Gaza city, causing injuries to two Palestinians in nearby homes.
Several missiles have been fired into different areas in the Gaza Strip, including Rafah that was struck with at least three missiles, causing several injuries and panic attacks among the Palestinians, including many children and infants.
Israeli missiles also struck farmlands in Beit Lahia, Shejaeyya area, while a number of homes have also been damaged in an Israeli air strike close to a local mosque in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza.
Armed resistance groups in Gaza fired several shells into adjacent Israeli settlements, reportedly some even reaching Gush Etzion settlement bloc, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Shells were fired into settlements in the Negev, including areas in the Eshkol Regional Council of Settlements, She’ar HaNegev, Netivot, Bane Shimon and Merhavim.
Israel says its “Iron Dome” system intercepted some of the shells, and that one Israeli was injured. Most of the shells landed and detonated in open areas.
On Monday evening, Israeli sources said the government decided to refrain from invading Gaza, but would engage in extensive strikes reportedly “against Hamas and Palestinian fighters”, although the missiles and shells are largely hitting civilian homes.
More escalation is expected in the coming hours, especially in the evening, as Israeli military sources said 1500 reserve soldiers will be gradually deployed, and that the army intends to conduct a “gradual offensive that could eventually turn into a comprehensive and direct confrontation”.
Israel launches massive offensive in Gaza: “Operation Protective Edge”
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