People injured by IDF strike in Gaza
Photo: AFP
Army tank in Strip
Photo: AFP
Gaza: 20 Palestinians killed in 4 days
According to Palestinian reports, at least 11 people killed since army forces began operating in Sajaiya neighborhood; IDF says number is higher. Meanwhile, UN agency warns Gaza facing food crisis due to continued blockade
At least 11 Palestinians have been killed since the IDF launched its recent operation in the Sajaiya neighborhood north of Gaza City Saturday night, sources in the Strip reported. According to the IDF, the number is higher and stands at an estimated 20.
According to the Palestinians, five of the people killed were Hamas operatives, two were Presidential Guard officers and the others civilians. Another Palestinian civilian was killed by sniper fire in Rafah, and a youngster was killed in a Beit Hanoun house by a tank shell that exploded and injured his brother.
IDF Strike
Ali Waked
Army says tank fired at gunmen in Sajaiya neighborhood; six injured. Twenty Palestinians killed since Sunday
The Palestinian also claimed that the body of one of the people killed in the action was evacuated from his house only 12 hours after the attack because the army prevented paramedic teams from accessing the place. Several statements released by the different armed factions reported that they have managed to hit at least four IDF tanks. The army confirmed that two soldiers and two tanks were hit by antitank fire.
Palestinian sources said that more than 50 people gave been injured during the offensive and that several houses in the neighborhood were completely or partially destroyed. Some of the buildings belong to the family of Ramadan Shalah, Islamic Jihad's secretary general who currently resides in Damascus. In one of the incidents, an IDF tank fired a shell at the house of one of Shalah's brothers, causing no casualties.
UN warms of humanitarian crisis in Strip
Meanwhile, the UN's World Food Program warned Monday that Gaza was facing a rapidly escalating crisis as a result of Israel's two-month-old offensive there."Industries which were once the backbone of Gaza's economy and food system, such as the agriculture and fishing industries, are suffocated by the current situation and risk losing all viability," said Arnold Vercken, the local WFP director.
The crisis has left 70 percent of Gaza's population lacking food and forced the WFP to increase the number of Gazans receiving aid to 220,000 from 160,000 the WFP said. They include poor farmers, fishermen and others.
The Rome-based agency cautioned that the crisis in Lebanon should not result in Gaza being overlooked.
"In contrast to Lebanon, where humanitarian food aid needs have been essentially met, the growing number of poor in Gaza are living on the bare minimum and face a daily struggle to cover their daily food needs," the WFP said in a statement.
With power and water supplies low and unreliable, farmers forced to buy power and water to maintain their crops are increasing prices at a time when people can't afford it, the U.N. agency said. As a result, farmers are struggling to sell their produce and make ends meet.
Fishermen also are in dire straits - the industry paralyzed by a total closure of the Gaza coastline since June 25.
"WFP food assistance is acting as a band-aid in an attempt to prevent a further decline of livelihoods and nutrition among the poorest," Vercken said.
"Rising criminality and a return to kidnapping illustrate the precariousness of the situation and this deters foreign investment and much needed job
creation."
The agency said it faces a funding shortfall, with its two-year operation launched in September 2005, which requires USD 103 million.
Hanan Greenberg and AP contributed to the report
