Israel continues Gaza assault

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-16-2008 08:55

Israeli tanks, bulldozers and helicopters are continuing to attack the Gaza Strip, killing the son of a senior Hamas leader and eighteen other Palestinians, including three civilians.

The body of a Palestinian killed by Israeli fire is  delivered to the morgue at the al-Shifa hospital  in Gaza City Jan. 15, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo)

This comes as Israel and the Palestinian National Authority try to move peacemaking into high gear.

The latest violence has seen Gaza suffer one of its bloodiest days in recent times as Israel's onslaught continues.

The killing of the son of senior Hamas leader, Mahmoud Zahar and the deaths of Palestinian civilians in the Israeli attack are threatening to further fuel the violence.

Shifa Hospital in Gaza City is calling for blood donations because of the large number of wounded.

Deposed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya and Zahar condemn the Israeli raid. They say these attacks are gifts from Bush and vowed to respond to the raid "in the appropriate way".

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has described the attacks as a massacre.

Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President, said, "Today there is a massacre against our people. We say to the world and Israel, it is impossible to stay quiet about these crimes. It is impossible that it will bring peace in any circumstances."

But Israel says it carried out the operation to curb rocket attacks from Gaza.

Israeli tanks, bulldozers and helicopters are continuing to attack the Gaza Strip.(CCTV.com)

Shimon Peres, Israeli President, said, "But as long as they are shooting we are left without a choice but to answer and stop it."

In the course of the fighting, a Palestinian sniper fired from the border area into Israel, killing a worker in a field.

At least three rockets also landed in southern Israel Tuesday, injuring four people.

After Hamas wrested control of the Gaza Strip last June, Abbas sacked the Hamas-led coalition government and instated a new one in the West Bank.

Moderate Palestinians in the West Bank and Israel resumed peace talks Monday.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei