Israel-Palestine fighting intensifies, 23 killed in Gaza

Kathmandu: Palestinian fighters have fired many rockets while Israel continued to bomb besieged Gaza, with a series of air strikes killing 23 Palestinians, including at least 10 civilians and head of Islamic Jihad movement’s rocket-launching force.

A state-run Egyptian TV station announced that Egypt, a frequent mediator between the sides, had brokered a ceasefire. But the truce efforts faltered as fighting intensified early on Thursday, with neither side showing any sign of backing down.

Israel bombed a building in the southern Gaza area of Khan Younis, killing the head of Islamic Jihad’s rocket-launching unit, identified as Ali Ghali, and two other fighters, the Israeli military and Islamic Jihad said.

In a prime-time TV address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Israel had dealt a harsh blow to the Palestinian fighters. But he cautioned, ‘This round is not over.’

Throughout Wednesday, rocket fire set off air-raid sirens throughout southern and central Israel, some 80 kilometres away.

Residents had been bracing for an attack since Israel launched its first air strikes early on Tuesday.It was the heaviest fighting between the sides in months, pushing the region closer toward a full-blown war.

Late on Wednesday, Egypt’s Extra News television channel, which has close ties to Egyptian security agencies, said it had brokered a ceasefire.Israeli officials confirmed that Egypt was trying to facilitate a ceasefire.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss behind-the-scenes diplomacy, they said Israel would evaluate the situation based on actions on the ground, not declarations. Gaza’s Islamic Jihad resistance group said it would continue firing rockets.

As rockets streaked through the sky, Israeli TV stations showed air defense systems intercepting rockets above the skies of Tel Aviv. In the nearby suburb of Ramat Gan, people lay face-down on the ground as they took cover.

The Israeli military said that for the first time, an air-defense system known as David’s Sling intercepted a rocket. The system, developed with the US, is meant to intercept medium-range threats and is part of a multi-layered air defense that also includes the better-known Iron Dome anti-rocket system.