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Gaza Death Toll Tops 30 As Israel And Hamas Renew Violence

Nicholas Slayton |
November 16, 2012 | 2:06 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

The violence marks three days of renewed conflict (Joi Ito, Creative Commons).
The violence marks three days of renewed conflict (Joi Ito, Creative Commons).
Israel's cabinet gave the okay for the armed forces to bring in as many at 75,000 reservist troops to join the fight against Gaza.

The Israeli government's move comes after three days of fighting between the Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas alongside militants in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli air force has launched a series of air strikes throughout the Palestinian territory since Wednesday.

READ ALSO: Tensions Rise On Boths Sides Of Gaza Border

Palestinian medical officials said that at least 30 people, including eight children, have died in Gaza since the renewed violence began. At least 270 people have been wounded by the attacks. Three Israelis have died from counterattacks from Gaza.

A ceasefire was agreed to while Egyptian Prime Minister Hesham Qandil visited Gaza, but groups such as Islamic Jihad refused to acknowledge it and continued to fire rockets, bringing the back and forth of attacks back into affect. Qandil said that Egypt was committed to negotiating a truce.

Prime Minister met with his cabinet, telling them not to talk to the media as they approved the reservist mobilization. The amassing of troops is raising fears of a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, similar to Operations Cast Lead which killed as many as 1417 people, including more than 900 civilians. Israel currently has air forces bombing Gaza, troops at the border and naval forces launching strikes along the coast.

Hamas launched long-range rockets into Israeli, targeting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The attacks represent the first strikes at either city by Hamas in years, and the first attack on Tel Aviv since 1991. One rocket, part of what Hamas said are new and improved arms, struck the outskirts of Jerusalem, in an attempted strike on the Knesset. Israel earlier attacked Hamas's interior ministry.

The conflict also raised tensions on social media. The IDF's Twitter feed ended up in a verbal sparring contest with Gazan accounts, while also posting updates about Hamas officials that had been killed. The IDF also sent mass texts to Palestinians, warning that “The next phase is on the way. Stay away from Hamas elements.”

Israeli's population is divided on the recent violence. Last night, Israelis staged an anti-war protest in Tel Aviv, which has been echoed around the world. Jaffa-based filmmaker David Sheen recorded the rally:

The United States said it supports Israel, but fears a second invasion of Gaza. Officials say that the White House is urging Netanyahu not to send ground troops into the Palestinian territory, out of fear that it would escalate the conflict further and draw other forces into a war.

Read more of Neon Tommy's coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict here.
Reach Executive Producer Nicholas Slayton here. Follow him here.



 

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