Israel agreed to a Palestinian request for a two-hour humanitarian cease-fire to clear corpses after dozens of Hamas terrorists were killed in fierce clashes in the Sejiya neighborhood of Gaza. The cease-fire was from 1.30- 3.30 pm but did not hold. A representative of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said that the situation in the Gaza fighting was far worse than in Operation Cast Lead in 2009.
UNRWA spokesman Adnan Abu-Hasna said that 20 Hamas fighters were killed this morning. He said, "I've come from Shiffa hospital where 6-7,000 people have taken refuge because they think it’s a safe place and didn't know what to do. We have perhaps 80,000 people in our schools. We have nothing to give them and most of our equipment has run out. The Sejiya neighborhood is deserted and there are many injured there. Ambulances cannot get there and most residents have left their homes. There is great confusion and enormous pressure on UNRWA."
Israeli sources have said that more than 120 Hamas terrorists have been killed in the Gaza operation so far.
IDF losses have reached five since the Gaza ground offensive began on Thursday night. This morning it was revealed that the Commander of the Golan Battalion Colonel Rasan Alian had sustained light to medium injuries in Gaza. He was taken by helicopter from Gaza to hospital but has since been released.
Meanwhile rockets continue to be fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip. Around 9 am there were rockets fired at the Tel Aviv and Sharon regions as well as Ashdod and Ashkelon and at 11 am rockets were fired at Rishon Lezion and Rehovot. The rockets were successfully intercepted by Iron Dome.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 20, 2014
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