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| Israel declares partial Gaza ceasefire but fighting goes on in Rafah | Israel declares partial Gaza ceasefire but fighting goes on in Rafah |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Israel declared a seven-hour “humanitarian window” in Gaza on Monday amid international outrage at the third deadly attack on a UN school sheltering displaced Palestinians and mounting pressure for the bloodshed to end. | |
| The unilateral ceasefire is the eighth temporary pause in fighting, nearly all of which have broken down amid mutual accusations of violations. | The unilateral ceasefire is the eighth temporary pause in fighting, nearly all of which have broken down amid mutual accusations of violations. |
| It slowed violence but shortly after it started two Israeli missiles hit a house in the Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza, killing one, the Red Crescent and a Gaza health official said. | |
| Later in Jerusalem one person was killed when a man rammed a construction excavator into a bus in an ultra-Orthodox neighbourhood close to the unofficial line between the Jewish and Arab areas of the city. Shortly after the excavator attack, Israeli media reported that a gunman on a motorcycle shot and seriously wounded an Israeli soldier. | |
| The Israeli ceasefire in Gaza had also exempted the area around the southern town of Rafah, where the UN school was struck on Sunday and fighting was continuing. Troops were working on destroying a cross-border tunnel in the area. | |
| Israeli army spokesman Peter Lerner said the Israel Defence Forces was close to completing its mission to destroy the network of tunnels leading into Israel. “We’ve caused substantial damage to this network to an extent where we’ve basically taken this huge threat and made it minimal,” he said. | Israeli army spokesman Peter Lerner said the Israel Defence Forces was close to completing its mission to destroy the network of tunnels leading into Israel. “We’ve caused substantial damage to this network to an extent where we’ve basically taken this huge threat and made it minimal,” he said. |
| Hamas said it did not trust Israel’s motives for declaring a unilateral ceasefire. “The calm Israel declared is unilateral and aims to divert attention away from the Israeli massacres. We do not trust such a calm and we urge our people to exercise caution,” said spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. | Hamas said it did not trust Israel’s motives for declaring a unilateral ceasefire. “The calm Israel declared is unilateral and aims to divert attention away from the Israeli massacres. We do not trust such a calm and we urge our people to exercise caution,” said spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. |
| As the conflict entered its 28th day, airstrikes continued overnight in and around Gaza City though of lesser intensity than previous nights. Rockets were fired by Hamas in the hours before the ceasefire was to come into effect. | As the conflict entered its 28th day, airstrikes continued overnight in and around Gaza City though of lesser intensity than previous nights. Rockets were fired by Hamas in the hours before the ceasefire was to come into effect. |
| The attack on a UN school, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens more and coming just four days after a similar attack in Gaza City caused international shock and anger, was denounced as a “moral outrage and a criminal act” by UN chief Ban Ki-moon. | The attack on a UN school, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens more and coming just four days after a similar attack in Gaza City caused international shock and anger, was denounced as a “moral outrage and a criminal act” by UN chief Ban Ki-moon. |
| It was “yet another gross violation of international humanitarian law, which clearly requires protection by both parties of Palestinian civilians, UN staff and UN premises, among other civilian facilities.” He called for a swift investigation, saying “those responsible [must be] held accountable. It is a moral outrage and a criminal act.” | It was “yet another gross violation of international humanitarian law, which clearly requires protection by both parties of Palestinian civilians, UN staff and UN premises, among other civilian facilities.” He called for a swift investigation, saying “those responsible [must be] held accountable. It is a moral outrage and a criminal act.” |
| The Israel Defence Forces had been “repeatedly informed of the location of these sites,” said Ban. | The Israel Defence Forces had been “repeatedly informed of the location of these sites,” said Ban. |
| A hospital near the site of Sunday’s attack, in the southern town of Rafah, was overwhelmed with the dead and injured. Children’s bodies were stored in an ice cream freezer as the morgue ran out of space. | A hospital near the site of Sunday’s attack, in the southern town of Rafah, was overwhelmed with the dead and injured. Children’s bodies were stored in an ice cream freezer as the morgue ran out of space. |
| The Israeli military was investigating the incident, said a spokesman, but preliminary inquiries had shown that its forces were “targeting a number of terrorists on a motorbike near the school, and we did identify a successful hit on a motorbike. We do not target schools. We certainly do not target civilians. We are still reviewing the incident.” | The Israeli military was investigating the incident, said a spokesman, but preliminary inquiries had shown that its forces were “targeting a number of terrorists on a motorbike near the school, and we did identify a successful hit on a motorbike. We do not target schools. We certainly do not target civilians. We are still reviewing the incident.” |
| The IDF began withdrawing forces from Gaza on Sunday in what the military described as a “new phase” in the 27-day conflict. “The troops are in the midst of a redeployment to other parts of the border,” said Lerner. “Indeed we are releasing troops from the front line but the mission is ongoing. Ground forces are operating. Air forces are operating.” | The IDF began withdrawing forces from Gaza on Sunday in what the military described as a “new phase” in the 27-day conflict. “The troops are in the midst of a redeployment to other parts of the border,” said Lerner. “Indeed we are releasing troops from the front line but the mission is ongoing. Ground forces are operating. Air forces are operating.” |
| Residents of some areas of Gaza, who had been warned to evacuate, were told they could return to their homes. | Residents of some areas of Gaza, who had been warned to evacuate, were told they could return to their homes. |
| Israeli analysts said that Israel was effecting a unilateral winding down of the military operation rather than engage in truce negotiations with Hamas. But the international community is likely to be alarmed at Israel bypassing negotiations. Political leaders and a senior diplomats have repeatedly stressed that the two sides must address and resolve underlying issues that lead to the current conflict to break the cycle of violence. | Israeli analysts said that Israel was effecting a unilateral winding down of the military operation rather than engage in truce negotiations with Hamas. But the international community is likely to be alarmed at Israel bypassing negotiations. Political leaders and a senior diplomats have repeatedly stressed that the two sides must address and resolve underlying issues that lead to the current conflict to break the cycle of violence. |
| Efforts to forge a truce resumed in Cairo on Sunday, with Middle East envoy Tony Blair and US special envoy Frank Lowenstein flying in, along with a Palestinian delegation which included representative of the main militant groups in Gaza, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. However Israel declined to send a team to join the talks, in an indication it wants to proceed on its own terms, diminishing prospects for an early breakthrough. | Efforts to forge a truce resumed in Cairo on Sunday, with Middle East envoy Tony Blair and US special envoy Frank Lowenstein flying in, along with a Palestinian delegation which included representative of the main militant groups in Gaza, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. However Israel declined to send a team to join the talks, in an indication it wants to proceed on its own terms, diminishing prospects for an early breakthrough. |
| Among demands tabled by the Palestinians were an end to the blockade of Gaza, extending the permitted fishing zone at sea and the removal of the no-go buffer zone inside the border, rehabilitation of Gaza and emergency aid, and a release of prisoners. | Among demands tabled by the Palestinians were an end to the blockade of Gaza, extending the permitted fishing zone at sea and the removal of the no-go buffer zone inside the border, rehabilitation of Gaza and emergency aid, and a release of prisoners. |
| As diplomats prepared for talks in Cairo, the funeral took place of Hadar Goldin, a 23-year-old soldier who Israel said had been captured by Hamas during an attack near Rafah on Friday. Hamas denied it was holding the soldier. Israel retaliated for the attack – in which two other soldiers were killed – with massive bombardment of the area. | As diplomats prepared for talks in Cairo, the funeral took place of Hadar Goldin, a 23-year-old soldier who Israel said had been captured by Hamas during an attack near Rafah on Friday. Hamas denied it was holding the soldier. Israel retaliated for the attack – in which two other soldiers were killed – with massive bombardment of the area. |
| In a statement issued late on Saturday night, the IDF said Goldin had been killed in battle, bringing the number of soldiers killed to 64. It also confirmed that he was related to defence minister Moshe Ya’alon. | In a statement issued late on Saturday night, the IDF said Goldin had been killed in battle, bringing the number of soldiers killed to 64. It also confirmed that he was related to defence minister Moshe Ya’alon. |
| Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas’s spokesman in Gaza, accused Israel of “tricking” the world by saying that the soldier had been abducted. “Israel tricked and deceived the world when it claimed Friday that a soldier had been abducted and then admitted that he had actually been killed in battle in Rafah. It did this only in order to breach the 72-hour cease-fire agreed upon with the UN and the US, in order to commit massacre in Rafah,” he told reporters. | Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas’s spokesman in Gaza, accused Israel of “tricking” the world by saying that the soldier had been abducted. “Israel tricked and deceived the world when it claimed Friday that a soldier had been abducted and then admitted that he had actually been killed in battle in Rafah. It did this only in order to breach the 72-hour cease-fire agreed upon with the UN and the US, in order to commit massacre in Rafah,” he told reporters. |
| Praising the soldier as a “great hero”, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu told his parents: “I hope that you will find consolation in the fact that he fell to uphold the people of Israel in the struggle for our independence.” | Praising the soldier as a “great hero”, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu told his parents: “I hope that you will find consolation in the fact that he fell to uphold the people of Israel in the struggle for our independence.” |
| The UN warned of a rapidly unfolding health disaster in Gaza, with hospital and other medical services, overwhelmed with injured people, on the verge of collapse. A third of hospitals, 14 primary healthcare clinics and 29 ambulances had been damaged in the fighting; at least five medical staff had been killed on duty; and more than 40% of medical staff were unable to get to places of work, it said. | The UN warned of a rapidly unfolding health disaster in Gaza, with hospital and other medical services, overwhelmed with injured people, on the verge of collapse. A third of hospitals, 14 primary healthcare clinics and 29 ambulances had been damaged in the fighting; at least five medical staff had been killed on duty; and more than 40% of medical staff were unable to get to places of work, it said. |
| Critical supplies of medicines and other supplies were almost depleted, and damage and destruction of power supplies had left hospitals dependent on unreliable back-up generators. | Critical supplies of medicines and other supplies were almost depleted, and damage and destruction of power supplies had left hospitals dependent on unreliable back-up generators. |
| The Palestinian death toll surpassed 1,800, 80% of whom are civilians according to UN estimates. About 460,000 people in Gaza have been displaced since the start of the conflict. Three civilians in Israel have been killed. | The Palestinian death toll surpassed 1,800, 80% of whom are civilians according to UN estimates. About 460,000 people in Gaza have been displaced since the start of the conflict. Three civilians in Israel have been killed. |
| Many were “now living in overcrowded conditions in schools, with relatives or in makeshift shelters. This, coupled with lack of inadequate water and sanitation, poses serious risks of outbreak of water-borne and communicable diseases,” the UN said. | Many were “now living in overcrowded conditions in schools, with relatives or in makeshift shelters. This, coupled with lack of inadequate water and sanitation, poses serious risks of outbreak of water-borne and communicable diseases,” the UN said. |
| Meanwhile, the European Union called on both Israel and Hamas to “immediately stop” hostilities in Gaza, and condemned the loss of life. “The bloodshed needs to stop,” said a statement signed by the EU and European Commission presidents on behalf of 28 member states. | Meanwhile, the European Union called on both Israel and Hamas to “immediately stop” hostilities in Gaza, and condemned the loss of life. “The bloodshed needs to stop,” said a statement signed by the EU and European Commission presidents on behalf of 28 member states. |
| “We deplore the terrible loss of lives, including innocent women and children,” it said, condemning the “intolerable violence” being suffered by Gaza residents under Israeli bombardment. It also called the continued rocket fire by Hamas over Israel “an unacceptable threat” to Israeli citizens. | “We deplore the terrible loss of lives, including innocent women and children,” it said, condemning the “intolerable violence” being suffered by Gaza residents under Israeli bombardment. It also called the continued rocket fire by Hamas over Israel “an unacceptable threat” to Israeli citizens. |