(VOVWORLD) - The Israeli army on Thursday stepped up its attacks throughout the Gaza Strip, especially in the densely populated city of Rafah at the southern tip of Gaza, despite international diplomatic efforts to cool down the fighting and move toward a complete end to the conflict.
 Illustrative image (Photo: Reuters) |
Palestinian media said Israeli tanks advanced to the centre of Rafah, and at the same time stepped up attacks west of Rafah.
Attacks were especially fierce in the Al Mawasi area. Hamas sources said the latest attacks killed more than 30 people, most of them civilians. The Israeli army said that in the past 24 hours its forces had attacked 45 targets in Gaza, killing at least 10 Hamas fighters.
Israeli officials said Thursday that 40 rockets were launched from Lebanon at cities in northern Israel. Two people were wounded by debris from the rockets, Israel's national ambulance service said.
On Wednesday, Hezbollah said it had launched dozens of rockets at an Israeli military factory in response to an Israeli attack that killed Taleb Abdallah, a senior Hezbollah commander, and three gunmen. Hezbollah said it will increase its military activities.