Ramallah, 15-01-09: On the 20th of attacks, Israel has intensified its military campaign by striking over 70 targets throughout the night.
Today’s targets shows that no one is safe from the onslaught be they civilian, humanitarian worker or journalist.
Israeli forces have surrounded the Al-Aqsa Hospital, and refused to allow health workers or the wounded to either get in or out. Another hospital, Al Quds hospital -operated by the Red Crescent- caught fire when it came under Israeli shelling. An severe explosion is now feared due to the fuel stored in the hospital’s warehouse.
The Palestinian Medical Relief Society staff in Gaza has been forced to abandon their offices and care centers as the Israeli army inches to within only a few hundred meters.
Though Israel denies using the controversial weapon despite growing evidence, UNRWA officials report that their installations were struck this morning by White Phosphorous injuring 3 people and causing extensive damage.
The onslaught against local and international media has continued as well. This morning the offices of a number of media organizations (Reuters, Abu Dhabi TV) were struck by an Israeli shell, injuring 2 and further curbing press coverage of events on the ground.
Israel’s leaders seem intent on continuing their operations despite signs from Hamas that they would be willing to accept the cease-fire proposal emanating from Cairo.
As the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has arrived in Jerusalem today, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, the Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative notably, calls on the UN official to visit Gaza and not only Jerusalem or Ramallah. This is were the onslaught has to be witnessed and to discuss the prospects of a de-escalation following the previously ignored UN Security Council Resolution” he said.
The Deputy calls on Ban Ki Moon to urge the international community to intervene as soon as possible “to prevent more death, and the deepening of Gaza’s already disastrous humanitarian catastrophe.”
“Without punishment action against Israel, they will not stop.”