Fierce Fighting Erupts in Gaza Despite UN Call for Cease-fire
By VOA News
09 January 2009
Israeli and Hamas forces fought fierce battles in the Gaza Strip Friday, both sides defying a United Nations demand for an immediate cease-fire as the conflict enters its third week.
Thick plumes of smoke rose above Gaza City, and Israeli helicopters flew over the Palestinian territory even during an Israeli-called three-hour halt. Heavy fighting is reported in northeastern Gaza, near the border with Israel, as well as at Gaza's southern Rafah crossing with Egypt. Hamas rockets continue to land in southern Israel.
Two media groups with journalists in Gaza, the Associated Press and al-Jazeera, reported today that Israeli forces appeared to be using white phosphorous in their operations. The powder explodes to light up battlefields at night, but its use in densely-populated areas is largely banned because it can cause severe chemical burns.
Iran's state-run Press TV reports that two people were wounded today in an Israeli attack on its Gaza office, despite its location being given to the U.N. and lights on the roof to mark the building.
U.N. official John Ging says aid operations will resume "as soon as practical." The U.N. suspended aid efforts Thursday, citing the danger posed by the Israeli military. Hundreds of thousands of people in densely-populated Gaza face shortages of food, medicine, water and power.
In Geneva, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights called for an independent investigation of possible war crimes in Gaza and Israel. Navi Pillay warned that individual criminal responsibility may be invoked, adding "the vicious cycle of provocation and retribution must be brought to an end."
The White House today added its voice to a growing chorus of concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. But spokesman Scott Stanzel added the situation will not improve until Hamas stops lobbing rockets into Israel.
Also Friday, the U.N. issued a report saying 30 Palestinians were killed earlier this week when the Israeli army moved more than 100 civilians into a house, warned them to stay inside, and later shelled the building repeatedly.
On Thursday, the International Committee of the Red Cross highlighted the same incident. Israel says it is looking into the incident.
In the other Palestinian territory, the West Bank, protesters today threw stones at Israeli security forces. The Israeli offensive has, to some extent, united supporters of Hamas, which controls Gaza, and its rival Fatah, which runs the West Bank.
Demonstrations against Israel are being held today across the Middle East, including in Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt, as well as in the majority Muslim nations of Indonesia and Malaysia. Some of the protesters also expressed anger at Arab leaders for failing to ease the plight of the people of Gaza. Egypt has kept its border with Gaza largely closed.
Rallies in support of Israel were planned today in London, Rome, Berlin and Vienna by the European Jewish Congress.
The EJC said it also is taking a stand against what it called the one-sided importation of the Israeli-Hamas conflict to Europe and condemned recent acts of anti-Semitic violence and vandalism on the continent.
Diplomatic efforts are continuing to try to find an end to the conflict, with Egyptian-mediated talks taking place in Cairo. A Hamas delegation from Gaza is headed to the Egyptian capital to take part in the discussions.
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer also is set to hold talks on the crisis in the coming days during a visit to Israel. The alliance chief told Dutch radio Saturday that NATO could deploy a peace force to the region but only after a sustainable truce is reached.
The U.N. resolution was approved late Thursday by a 14-to-nothing vote. It calls for a truce leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, demands an end to Hamas rocket attacks and calls for the unimpeded distribution of humanitarian aid.
The United States, which had helped craft the resolution, abstained from the vote, saying it wants to see the outcome of mediation efforts by Egypt.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who also played a key role in drafting the measure, says the resolution is a clear first step.
In the two weeks since Israel began its air and ground attacks in Gaza, U.N. officials say more than 750 Palestinians have been killed, with estimates that one third of the victims children. At least 18 Israelis have died, including at least nine soldiers.
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