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| Gaza Deaths Spike in 3rd Day of Air Assaults While Rockets Hit Israel | Gaza Deaths Spike in 3rd Day of Air Assaults While Rockets Hit Israel |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| JERUSALEM — Palestinian deaths from Israel’s aerial attacks in Gaza rose sharply on Thursday, while militants there fired more than 180 rockets into Israel, reaching new targets spread across a vast area of the country. | |
| The escalation appeared to increase the likelihood of a ground invasion and prompted the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, to call urgently for a return to calm and a cease-fire. | The escalation appeared to increase the likelihood of a ground invasion and prompted the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, to call urgently for a return to calm and a cease-fire. |
| “Today, we face the risk of an all-out escalation in Israel and Gaza, with the threat of a ground offensive still palpable — and preventable only if Hamas stops rocket firing,” he told an emergency meeting of the Security Council. There were no signs that a cease-fire was imminent, and no signs that diplomats representing the antagonists were heeding Mr. Ban’s call for calm. | “Today, we face the risk of an all-out escalation in Israel and Gaza, with the threat of a ground offensive still palpable — and preventable only if Hamas stops rocket firing,” he told an emergency meeting of the Security Council. There were no signs that a cease-fire was imminent, and no signs that diplomats representing the antagonists were heeding Mr. Ban’s call for calm. |
| Ron Prosor, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, played an air-raid siren at the Council meeting to reflect what his country’s citizens hear every day. He called his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad Mansour, “a mouthpiece of Hamas.” Mr. Mansour blamed the underlying Israeli occupation, exhorting the Council to intervene and “salvage prospects for peace and security.” | Ron Prosor, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, played an air-raid siren at the Council meeting to reflect what his country’s citizens hear every day. He called his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad Mansour, “a mouthpiece of Hamas.” Mr. Mansour blamed the underlying Israeli occupation, exhorting the Council to intervene and “salvage prospects for peace and security.” |
| In a televised statement after a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said, “While the campaign has gone as planned, further stages yet await us,” describing what was to come as “tough” and “complex.” | In a televised statement after a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said, “While the campaign has gone as planned, further stages yet await us,” describing what was to come as “tough” and “complex.” |
| “We have struck hard at Hamas and the terrorists, and as long as the campaign continues we will strike at them harder,” he said. | “We have struck hard at Hamas and the terrorists, and as long as the campaign continues we will strike at them harder,” he said. |
| President Obama spoke with Mr. Netanyahu by phone on Thursday from Air Force One while returning to Washington from a fund-raising trip to Colorado and Texas. A White House statement said that Mr. Obama expressed concern about further escalation of violence and told the Israeli leader that the United States remained “prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities” between Israel and the Palestinians. Aides said Mr. Obama also expressed condolences about the murder of three Israeli teenagers and concern about the beating of a teenage American citizen. | President Obama spoke with Mr. Netanyahu by phone on Thursday from Air Force One while returning to Washington from a fund-raising trip to Colorado and Texas. A White House statement said that Mr. Obama expressed concern about further escalation of violence and told the Israeli leader that the United States remained “prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities” between Israel and the Palestinians. Aides said Mr. Obama also expressed condolences about the murder of three Israeli teenagers and concern about the beating of a teenage American citizen. |
| A spokesman for the Israeli military said that about 20,000 reservists had been called up and that preparations for a possible ground operation were being completed. | A spokesman for the Israeli military said that about 20,000 reservists had been called up and that preparations for a possible ground operation were being completed. |
| As the air campaign entered its third day, the Palestinian death toll rose to at least 78, a majority of them civilians, according to officials in Gaza. No Israelis have been reported killed. | As the air campaign entered its third day, the Palestinian death toll rose to at least 78, a majority of them civilians, according to officials in Gaza. No Israelis have been reported killed. |
| Airstrikes overnight on a house in Khan Younis and an open-air beach cafe killed at least 15 Palestinians, and one airstrike hit a car used by a local news agency bearing media signs, killing the driver, Hamed Shehab, 27, the officials said. The Israeli military said it had also hit at least eight operatives from Hamas and Islamic Jihad in what it described as several precision strikes. The military said all had been involved in either the manufacture or firing of rockets. | Airstrikes overnight on a house in Khan Younis and an open-air beach cafe killed at least 15 Palestinians, and one airstrike hit a car used by a local news agency bearing media signs, killing the driver, Hamed Shehab, 27, the officials said. The Israeli military said it had also hit at least eight operatives from Hamas and Islamic Jihad in what it described as several precision strikes. The military said all had been involved in either the manufacture or firing of rockets. |
| The Palestine chapter of Defense for Children International, an independent child-rights organization, said 14 children aged 15 and younger had been killed in the airstrikes on Tuesday and Wednesday, including four toddlers. The group issued a list with the names and ages of those killed, saying its Gaza-based field worker had verified each death. | The Palestine chapter of Defense for Children International, an independent child-rights organization, said 14 children aged 15 and younger had been killed in the airstrikes on Tuesday and Wednesday, including four toddlers. The group issued a list with the names and ages of those killed, saying its Gaza-based field worker had verified each death. |
| Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas leader, said on Palestinian radio, “What we need is for the international community to pressure the occupation to halt its aggression, which is unjustified.” He was referring to Israel. | Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas leader, said on Palestinian radio, “What we need is for the international community to pressure the occupation to halt its aggression, which is unjustified.” He was referring to Israel. |
| The rocket fire into Israel reached Mitzpeh Ramon, a town deep in the Negev desert, and the Dead Sea area for the first time. More rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system or fell in open spaces in the Tel Aviv area of central Israel. Sirens wailed in Jerusalem in the early evening, and two rockets were intercepted above the city; two more fell in open areas, one on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah. | The rocket fire into Israel reached Mitzpeh Ramon, a town deep in the Negev desert, and the Dead Sea area for the first time. More rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system or fell in open spaces in the Tel Aviv area of central Israel. Sirens wailed in Jerusalem in the early evening, and two rockets were intercepted above the city; two more fell in open areas, one on the outskirts of the West Bank city of Ramallah. |
| Southern cities that have been the targets of rocket fire for years, like Ashdod and Beersheba, came under heavy rocket attack. The rockets caused extensive property damage but no serious injuries as Israelis ran for cover in shelters and fortified rooms with each siren. | Southern cities that have been the targets of rocket fire for years, like Ashdod and Beersheba, came under heavy rocket attack. The rockets caused extensive property damage but no serious injuries as Israelis ran for cover in shelters and fortified rooms with each siren. |
| Mr. Ban, while repeating his condemnation of indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into Israel, also warned Israel, saying “the excessive use of force and endangering of civilian lives are also intolerable.” | Mr. Ban, while repeating his condemnation of indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into Israel, also warned Israel, saying “the excessive use of force and endangering of civilian lives are also intolerable.” |
| “Once again,” he said, “Palestinian civilians are caught between Hamas’s irresponsibility and Israel’s tough response.” | “Once again,” he said, “Palestinian civilians are caught between Hamas’s irresponsibility and Israel’s tough response.” |
| Israel says it is taking precautions in an effort to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza. The military says it warns the occupants of houses marked for destruction that airstrikes are coming by phoning residents then firing a flare or a missile without an explosive warhead onto the roof. | Israel says it is taking precautions in an effort to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza. The military says it warns the occupants of houses marked for destruction that airstrikes are coming by phoning residents then firing a flare or a missile without an explosive warhead onto the roof. |
| The Israeli military gave an initial explanation of what happened in one case when seven people died and 25 were wounded in the strike on the house of the Kaware family in Khan Younis on Tuesday. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said Thursday that the warnings had been given, and that the attack had commenced after the Israelis had seen people vacating the premises. In the interval between the last warning and the airstrike, people went back in, Colonel Lerner told reporters, saying it was too late to cancel the missile. “It is a tragedy indeed and not what we intended,” he said. A member of the family said earlier that neighbors had come to “form a human shield.” | The Israeli military gave an initial explanation of what happened in one case when seven people died and 25 were wounded in the strike on the house of the Kaware family in Khan Younis on Tuesday. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said Thursday that the warnings had been given, and that the attack had commenced after the Israelis had seen people vacating the premises. In the interval between the last warning and the airstrike, people went back in, Colonel Lerner told reporters, saying it was too late to cancel the missile. “It is a tragedy indeed and not what we intended,” he said. A member of the family said earlier that neighbors had come to “form a human shield.” |
| The Israeli military said that the targeted houses belonged to Hamas members involved in launching rockets or other military activity, and that they had been used as operation centers. If innocents are hit, Mr. Netanyahu said, “it is because Hamas is maliciously hiding behind Palestinian civilians.” | The Israeli military said that the targeted houses belonged to Hamas members involved in launching rockets or other military activity, and that they had been used as operation centers. If innocents are hit, Mr. Netanyahu said, “it is because Hamas is maliciously hiding behind Palestinian civilians.” |
| In Gaza, the mood was somber but defiant. Abu Tamer Ajour, 70, said the conflict had come at a bad time, with Hamas unable to pay full salaries to its 40,000 employees, among other hardships. “This aggression makes matters worse,” he said, “but victory will be for the Gaza people and our resistance.” | In Gaza, the mood was somber but defiant. Abu Tamer Ajour, 70, said the conflict had come at a bad time, with Hamas unable to pay full salaries to its 40,000 employees, among other hardships. “This aggression makes matters worse,” he said, “but victory will be for the Gaza people and our resistance.” |
| Riad Fawzi, 48, who is jobless, said he did not expect the clashes to last for long. “The Jews are not interested in more escalation,” he said, referring to Israel. “We are used to this thing, but they cannot endure the same way we endure,” he said. “Allah is with us.” | Riad Fawzi, 48, who is jobless, said he did not expect the clashes to last for long. “The Jews are not interested in more escalation,” he said, referring to Israel. “We are used to this thing, but they cannot endure the same way we endure,” he said. “Allah is with us.” |