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Israel to Stop Gaza Bombing for 3 Hours a Day |
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Wednesday, 7 January 2009Israel's military says it is stopping its attacks on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip for three hours every day between 1100 and 1400 GMT to allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory.
The announcement Wednesday follows Israel's decision to set up a "humanitarian corridor" to allow Gaza residents to stock up on vital goods. Concerns have mounted over shortages of food, water and medicine.
Israel also has faced strong international criticism over Palestinian civilian casualties that have resulted from its 12-day old offensive against Hamas militants.
Israel's security cabinet is scheduled to meet today to discuss whether to expand the military operation in Gaza to allow Israeli forces to enter urban centers.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces say they hit 40 Hamas targets overnight with air strikes and artillery fire. Gaza health officials say the latest strikes killed at least eight people. Hamas rockets also hit southern Israel, but no casualties were reported.
On Tuesday, Israeli shelling killed some 40 Palestinians at a U.N.-run school in Gaza where hundreds of civilians were taking refuge.
Israel said its shelling at the school was in response to mortar fire from within the premises and accused Hamas militants of using schools, mosques and other civilian places to hide.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was unacceptable that the strikes would happen near U.N. facilities, and U.N. officials demanded an investigation.
Israel's massive air and ground assault has killed more than 670 Palestinians since it started nearly two weeks ago. The United Nations estimates that one quarter of the victims were civilians, including many children. Some 2,500 people have been wounded.
Hamas has continued to fire rockets into southern Israel throughout the campaign, killing at least four Israelis.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. |
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
VOA News
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