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| Gaza crisis: Israel claims Palestinian militants fired at least three mortars during ceasefire | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Israeli security forces claims Palestinian militants have fired at least three mortar shells from Gaza, after a fire-hour humanitarian ceasefire agreed by both sides to allow Gaza residents to stock up on supplies went into effect this morning. | |
| The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not yet taken any action, and Hamas has not responded to the unconfirmed claims. Israeli Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told the Associated Press two rockets fell in open areas in southern Israel, causing no damage or injuries. He said the rockets landed at 12 pm local time, two hours after the cease-fire began. | |
| Earlier, the military said it had thwarted an attack by 13 Gaza militants who they say sneaked into Israel through a tunnel, killing at least one. | |
| Both sides had said they would abide by a five-hour "humanitarian" truce brokered by the UN, which came following a bloody day in the crisis in which four Palestinian children playing on the beach were among those killed by airstrikes on Wednesday. | |
| Israel said it would stop its five-hour shelling of Gaza from 7am (GMT) – 10am local time – in order to allow Palestinians to restock food, water and other necessities. However, it had warned it would retaliate “firmly and decisively” if Hamas or any other militant groups launch rocket attacks during that period. | |
| Israel's bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 200 Palestinians to date. | Israel's bombardment of Gaza has killed more than 200 Palestinians to date. |
| Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that following consultations with various factions the Gaza militants had decided to respect the pause as well and would refrain from firing rockets. | Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that following consultations with various factions the Gaza militants had decided to respect the pause as well and would refrain from firing rockets. |
| Israel had previously agreed to halt its fire for six hours on Tuesday after Egypt brokered a ceasefire proposal that quickly unravelled. Mr Abu Zuhri said on Wednesday his group had formally rejected the plan. | |
| In Washington, President Barack Obama said the US supports Egypt's continued efforts to restore the 2012 cease-fire and will use all of its diplomatic resources and relationships to secure a deal to end the violence. Yesterday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with a senior official from Hamas in Cairo to try to salvage the Egyptian proposal. | In Washington, President Barack Obama said the US supports Egypt's continued efforts to restore the 2012 cease-fire and will use all of its diplomatic resources and relationships to secure a deal to end the violence. Yesterday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with a senior official from Hamas in Cairo to try to salvage the Egyptian proposal. |
| Israel's military said its forces bombed at least 150 targets in Gaza on Wednesday. The Gaza Interior Ministry's website said 30 houses, including those of senior Hamas leaders Mahmoud Zahar, Jamila Shanti, Fathi Hamas and Ismail Ashkar, were targeted. | Israel's military said its forces bombed at least 150 targets in Gaza on Wednesday. The Gaza Interior Ministry's website said 30 houses, including those of senior Hamas leaders Mahmoud Zahar, Jamila Shanti, Fathi Hamas and Ismail Ashkar, were targeted. |
| Palestinian employees of Gaza City's al-Deira hotel carry a wounded boy following an Israeli military strike nearby on the beach Gaza health official Ashraf al-Kidra said the Palestinian death toll rose to 222, with 1,670 wounded. Only one Israeli has so far died in the conflict - a civilian distributing food to soldiers in southern Israel on Tuesday evening - largely because of the effectiveness of Israel's Iron Dome air defense system in downing incoming rockets. | Palestinian employees of Gaza City's al-Deira hotel carry a wounded boy following an Israeli military strike nearby on the beach Gaza health official Ashraf al-Kidra said the Palestinian death toll rose to 222, with 1,670 wounded. Only one Israeli has so far died in the conflict - a civilian distributing food to soldiers in southern Israel on Tuesday evening - largely because of the effectiveness of Israel's Iron Dome air defense system in downing incoming rockets. |
| The four boys, who were cousins aged 9 to 11, were killed on the beach beside a coastal road west of Gaza City, Mr al-Kidra said. Seven others - adults and children - were wounded in the strike, which Palestinian human rights activist Khalil Abu Shamalla and Palestinian health officials said came from an Israeli naval vessel. | The four boys, who were cousins aged 9 to 11, were killed on the beach beside a coastal road west of Gaza City, Mr al-Kidra said. Seven others - adults and children - were wounded in the strike, which Palestinian human rights activist Khalil Abu Shamalla and Palestinian health officials said came from an Israeli naval vessel. |
| A Palestinian man looks at a house destroyed by Israeli Defense Forces during an overnight air strike in Gaza City The Israeli army said in a statement it was “carefully investigating” the matter. It said the target of the naval attack was “Hamas terrorist operatives” and that civilian casualties were “a tragic outcome.” | A Palestinian man looks at a house destroyed by Israeli Defense Forces during an overnight air strike in Gaza City The Israeli army said in a statement it was “carefully investigating” the matter. It said the target of the naval attack was “Hamas terrorist operatives” and that civilian casualties were “a tragic outcome.” |
| It said the army “has no intention of harming civilians dragged by Hamas into the reality of urban combat.” | It said the army “has no intention of harming civilians dragged by Hamas into the reality of urban combat.” |
| Israel's security Cabinet approved a call-up of 8,000 additional reservists, according to an Israeli official, also speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to discuss the matter publicly. | Israel's security Cabinet approved a call-up of 8,000 additional reservists, according to an Israeli official, also speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to discuss the matter publicly. |
| The army said 45,000 reservists have already been summoned - a sign that Israel was ramping up its threat to carry out a ground offensive, although experts have said such an action was highly unlikely. | The army said 45,000 reservists have already been summoned - a sign that Israel was ramping up its threat to carry out a ground offensive, although experts have said such an action was highly unlikely. |
| Palestinian children run to collect leaflets dropped by Israeli Defense Forces over the Shuja'iyya neighbourhood in east Gaza City On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas would pay a high price for rejecting the Egyptian plan. | |
| Tens of thousands of Palestinian residents of northern towns in Gaza were told to evacuate their homes by that morning. The Israeli military said in automated phone calls, text messages and air-dropped leaflets that large numbers of rockets were launched from these areas and that it planned to bomb these locations. | |
| “Whoever disregards these instructions and fails to evacuate immediately, endangers their own lives, as well as those of their families,” the message said. | “Whoever disregards these instructions and fails to evacuate immediately, endangers their own lives, as well as those of their families,” the message said. |
| Young relatives of four boys, all from the Bakr family, killed during Israeli shelling, cry during their funeral in Gaza City The Wafa Rehabilitation Center in Shijaiyah, which cares for 15 disabled and elderly patients, received several calls demanding the patients evacuate, said its director, Basman Ashi. | Young relatives of four boys, all from the Bakr family, killed during Israeli shelling, cry during their funeral in Gaza City The Wafa Rehabilitation Center in Shijaiyah, which cares for 15 disabled and elderly patients, received several calls demanding the patients evacuate, said its director, Basman Ashi. |
| An Israel shell hit near the building, damaging the second floor, but causing no injuries, he said. Ashi added that his patients have nowhere to go. | An Israel shell hit near the building, damaging the second floor, but causing no injuries, he said. Ashi added that his patients have nowhere to go. |
| Four foreign volunteers - from Britain, the US, France and Sweden - have set up camp at the rehabilitation center to deter the military from targeting it. | Four foreign volunteers - from Britain, the US, France and Sweden - have set up camp at the rehabilitation center to deter the military from targeting it. |
| Additional reporting by the Associated Press | Additional reporting by the Associated Press |