Israeli artillery continue to blast away at international criticism and peace initiatives to pound targets and advanced closer to Gaza City on Saturday. The day's bloodiest incident saw an Israeli shell land outside a home in the northern Gaza town of Jebaliya, killing nine people.
Paramedics say the nine casualties were from the same clan and included two children and two women.
"Residents brought them to the hospital in a civilian car, they put them all in the trunk because their bodies were mangled, we identified them a little after separating their bodies in the morgue," hospital administrator Adam Hakim was quoted saying by Associated Press website.
The Israeli army did not comment on the incident.
In a separate incident a Palestinian woman was killed when Israli jets raided the southern town of Rafah.
The aircraft attacked more than 40 targets throughout Gaza, striking several of Hamas’ strategic installations and infrastructure.
Israel faces mounting international criticism for the huge civilian casualties in the fighting.
Palestinian medical officials say more than 800 Palestinians, including 400 odd civilians, have been killed since the Israeli offensive started on December 27.
Thirteen Israelis have been killed — four of them by Hamas rockets, the rest in battle in Gaza. Five soldiers were wounded in Saturday's fighting.
Israel has dismissed the Security Council resolution passed Thursday as impractical, while Hamas, whose government in Gaza is not recognized, is angry it was not consulted over the diplomatic efforts.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert by phone on Friday and told the prime minister that he was disappointed the violence was continuing in disregard of the resolution, according to Ban's office.
Israel says any cease-fire must include assurances that Hamas will halt attacks and end the smuggling of weapons into Gaza.
Hamas says any cease-fire deal that does not include the full opening of Gaza's border crossings will not be acceptable.
The UN resolution emphasized the need to open all crossings, which Israel and Egypt have kept sealed since Hamas militants forcibly seized control of the territory 18 months ago.
Israel, however, opposes the step as it would strengthen Hamas grip over the territory.
With civilian death toll swelling protests continue in the Middle East and in Europe.
In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it is difficult to protect civilians in a place as densely populated as Gaza — an area just 25 miles long and roughly six miles wide.
"It's also an area in which Hamas participates in activities like human shields and using buildings that are not designated as military buildings to hide their fighters," she told reporters.
Seven Hamas officials crossed into Egypt on Friday through the Gaza border crossing at Rafah, on their way to Cairo for Egyptian-hosted negotiations on a truce with Israel.
(Agency Inputs)
Paramedics say the nine casualties were from the same clan and included two children and two women.
"Residents brought them to the hospital in a civilian car, they put them all in the trunk because their bodies were mangled, we identified them a little after separating their bodies in the morgue," hospital administrator Adam Hakim was quoted saying by Associated Press website.
The Israeli army did not comment on the incident.
In a separate incident a Palestinian woman was killed when Israli jets raided the southern town of Rafah.
The aircraft attacked more than 40 targets throughout Gaza, striking several of Hamas’ strategic installations and infrastructure.
Israel faces mounting international criticism for the huge civilian casualties in the fighting.
Palestinian medical officials say more than 800 Palestinians, including 400 odd civilians, have been killed since the Israeli offensive started on December 27.
Thirteen Israelis have been killed — four of them by Hamas rockets, the rest in battle in Gaza. Five soldiers were wounded in Saturday's fighting.
Israel has dismissed the Security Council resolution passed Thursday as impractical, while Hamas, whose government in Gaza is not recognized, is angry it was not consulted over the diplomatic efforts.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert by phone on Friday and told the prime minister that he was disappointed the violence was continuing in disregard of the resolution, according to Ban's office.
Israel says any cease-fire must include assurances that Hamas will halt attacks and end the smuggling of weapons into Gaza.
Hamas says any cease-fire deal that does not include the full opening of Gaza's border crossings will not be acceptable.
The UN resolution emphasized the need to open all crossings, which Israel and Egypt have kept sealed since Hamas militants forcibly seized control of the territory 18 months ago.
Israel, however, opposes the step as it would strengthen Hamas grip over the territory.
With civilian death toll swelling protests continue in the Middle East and in Europe.
In Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it is difficult to protect civilians in a place as densely populated as Gaza — an area just 25 miles long and roughly six miles wide.
"It's also an area in which Hamas participates in activities like human shields and using buildings that are not designated as military buildings to hide their fighters," she told reporters.
Seven Hamas officials crossed into Egypt on Friday through the Gaza border crossing at Rafah, on their way to Cairo for Egyptian-hosted negotiations on a truce with Israel.
(Agency Inputs)
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