Israel continues to bombard Gaza, 52,000 displaced

Israel bombarded Gaza with airstrikes and Palestinian militants resumed cross-border rocket fire on Tuesday after a brief overnight lull during which the United Nations managed to send a small fuel convoy into the enclave.

Israeli leaders said they would press on, for now, with an offensive to destroy the capabilities of the armed factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad, amid calls by the US and other world powers for an end to the conflict.

“The fighting will not cease until we bring total and longterm quiet,” Israeli defence minister Benny Gantz said in a video statement, blaming Hamas for the worst escalation in Israelipalestinian fighting in years. Hamas began firing rockets eight days ago in retaliation for what it said were Israeli rights abuses against Palestinians in Jerusalem.

Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Israel’s 21% Arab minority staged a general strike on Tuesday in solidarity.

Gaza medical officials say 213 Palestinians have been killed, including 61 children and 36 women. Israeli authorities say ten people have been killed in Israel, including two children.

Nearly 450 buildings in the Gaza strip have been destroyed or badly damaged, including six hospitals and nine primary care health centres, the UN humanitarian agency said.

More than 52,000 Palestinians have been displaced by Israeli airstrikes, the UN aid agency said on Tuesday. GAZA MEDICAL OFFICIALS SAID 213 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED, INCLUDING 61 CHILDREN. ISRAEL SAID 10 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, INCLUDING TWO CHILDREN