Gaza — The Gaza Strip suffered its bloodiest night of late on Friday as Israeli forces launched land and air attacks in different areas of the enclave, targeting Palestinian activists, security and civilian sites.
The death toll surged to 20 people on Saturday morning, while 70 others suffered critical injuries.
The Israeli offensives are the most aggressive since Operation Cast Lead in 2008.
Despite an alleged ceasefire agreed upon by all Palestinian factions on Thursday, the three-day Israeli strikes killed senior Hamas leaders. Militant groups responded with 70 missiles in one day, some reaching as far as 50km inside Israel.
Palestinian missiles injured seven Israelis in areas north of Ashdod and Nitzanim, while more that one million sought refuge in shelters.
Hamas' Prisoners Affairs Minister Atallah Abu Sabh told Al-Masry Al-Youm Palestinians have the right to respond to Israeli attacks.
Ihab al-Ghussein, Hamas’ interior minister, meanwhile said Israeli forces sabotaged the ceasefire agreement through perpetuating war crimes by targeting medical teams and using internationally-prohibited phosphorous shells.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday said Israel is willing to accept a ceasefire with Hamas militants.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
