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Dozens die in Israel-Gaza clashes | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Israeli forces have killed at least 35 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the deadliest day of fighting in a year. | |
Medical staff said at least seven were children, and up to 16 were militants. Israel said militants formed the majority of those killed. | |
Five Israeli troops were lightly injured in clashes with gunmen inside Gaza, after tanks entered in the north. | |
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas described the Israeli raids as "more than a holocaust". | Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas described the Israeli raids as "more than a holocaust". |
Mr Abbas was apparently alluding to controversial remarks made on Friday by Israel's Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai who said Palestinians risked a "shoah" - the Hebrew word for a big disaster as well as for the Nazi Holocaust. | Mr Abbas was apparently alluding to controversial remarks made on Friday by Israel's Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai who said Palestinians risked a "shoah" - the Hebrew word for a big disaster as well as for the Nazi Holocaust. |
Mr Vilnai's colleagues insisted he had not meant "genocide". | Mr Vilnai's colleagues insisted he had not meant "genocide". |
ISRAEL-HAMAS ATTACKS Saturday: At least 35 Palestinians killed Friday: Ashkelon activates warning system after rocket hits Thursday: Four Palestinian children and seven militants killed Wednesday: Six-month-old Palestinian boy and six militants killedIsraeli civilian killed in Sderot In pictures: Gaza violence | |
But Mr Abbas told reporters in the West Bank town of Ramallah: "It's very regrettable that what is happening is more than a holocaust. We tell the world to see with its own eyes and judge for itself what is happening." | But Mr Abbas told reporters in the West Bank town of Ramallah: "It's very regrettable that what is happening is more than a holocaust. We tell the world to see with its own eyes and judge for itself what is happening." |
Hamas's exiled leader Khaled Meshaal went further. | Hamas's exiled leader Khaled Meshaal went further. |
"Israeli actions in Gaza since Wednesday is the real Holocaust," he said in the Syrian capital, Damascus. | "Israeli actions in Gaza since Wednesday is the real Holocaust," he said in the Syrian capital, Damascus. |
He said Israel was "exaggerating the Holocaust and using it to blackmail the world". | He said Israel was "exaggerating the Holocaust and using it to blackmail the world". |
Civilian deaths | Civilian deaths |
Israel has said it may launch a full-scale attack on Gaza in response to militant rocket attacks. | Israel has said it may launch a full-scale attack on Gaza in response to militant rocket attacks. |
The BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem says Israel's leaders have been under pressure from some quarters to launch a ground invasion. | The BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem says Israel's leaders have been under pressure from some quarters to launch a ground invasion. |
However, a recent opinion poll has indicated a majority of Israelis favour a truce with the Islamist movement Hamas, which controls Gaza. | However, a recent opinion poll has indicated a majority of Israelis favour a truce with the Islamist movement Hamas, which controls Gaza. |
Gaza's citizens were kept awake for another night by the sounds of Israeli military aircraft and missile strikes. | Gaza's citizens were kept awake for another night by the sounds of Israeli military aircraft and missile strikes. |
On one occasion, a house east of the Jabaliya refugee camp was struck - two children, a brother and sister, were killed. | On one occasion, a house east of the Jabaliya refugee camp was struck - two children, a brother and sister, were killed. |
Later, a 15-year-old girl and her 16-year-old sister were also killed. | Later, a 15-year-old girl and her 16-year-old sister were also killed. |
In another attack, a mother was killed as she was preparing breakfast for her children, medical workers said. | |
"We are in the middle of a total war. We hear the rockets and the explosions everywhere... we cannot leave our homes," a Jabaliya resident, Abu Alaa, told the AFP news agency. | |
"They're shooting at everything that moves." | |
There was also fighting in and around the camp between Israeli troops backed by tanks and Palestinian militants equipped with crude rockets and mortars. | There was also fighting in and around the camp between Israeli troops backed by tanks and Palestinian militants equipped with crude rockets and mortars. |
Israel says its aim is to stop Palestinian militants firing rockets across the border. | Israel says its aim is to stop Palestinian militants firing rockets across the border. |
But several more were launched in recent hours, three hitting the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon and causing light injuries to four people. | But several more were launched in recent hours, three hitting the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon and causing light injuries to four people. |
On Wednesday a rocket fired by Hamas militants killed an Israeli student in the southern town of Sderot, the first such death in nine months. | On Wednesday a rocket fired by Hamas militants killed an Israeli student in the southern town of Sderot, the first such death in nine months. |
Palestinian militant leaders say they are responding to Israeli attacks. | Palestinian militant leaders say they are responding to Israeli attacks. |
More than 65 Palestinians and one Israeli have been killed in the violence since Wednesday. | |
Have you been affected by this story? Are you in Gaza? Send us your comments using the post form below: | Have you been affected by this story? Are you in Gaza? Send us your comments using the post form below: |