(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA) - occupied Palestinian territories documented in a report released Sunday that Israel carried out some 30 air strikes that claimed the lives of 14 Palestinians, injured 41 others, and caused significant damage in its latest escalation against the Gaza Strip beginning 18 August.The report says that damage has been reported to residential structures, at least four governmental buildings, and seven local NGOs, eight stores and supermarkets, a mosque, a school and a fuel station.Infrastructure was also damaged. A main sewage pump station slated to start operating in the coming months was almost completely destroyed, the document says. The station would have served the residents of Nusairat and Al-Bureij refugee camps, with a combined population of over 130,000.The stream of strikes also forced international NGOs to temporarily halt operations in the Strip, and 20 members of the NGOs’ staff has departed since the escalation began on 18 August.Separately, on Monday, the government in Gaza reached an agreement for a cease-fire with Israel.Shaul Mofaz chairman of Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Israeli Knesset confirmed that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu requested a cease-fire with Palestinian factions, denying claims by the PM’s office that Israel had made no contacts with Hamas whether directly or indirectly through Egypt.In an interview with Israeli Radio, Mofaz said that Israel stood powerless last week against what he called a terrorist attack that drove Netanyahu to request the cease fire./129
23 August 2011 - 19:30
News ID: 261523
In an interview with Israeli Radio, Mofaz said that Israel stood powerless last week against what he called a terrorist attack that drove Netanyahu to request the cease fire.
