GAZA CITY
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on Tuesday accused Israel of targeting civilians in the Gaza Strip, which has been reeling under unabated Israeli attacks since July 7.
"Israel's targeting of civilians proves its failure to confront the Palestinian resistance," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement.
At least 1158 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed and more than 7000 injured in a deadly Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip, now in its fourth week.
"Israel's insistence on killing children and civilians…proves the bloody nature of Israel," Abu Zuhri said.
Israel claims that the offensive aims at halting rocket fire from the blockaded Palestinian territory.
At least 56 Israelis – 53 soldiers and three civilians – have been killed since the hostilities began.
Israel's military operation, dubbed operation "Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populate Gaza Strip – which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – within the last six years.
In 2008/9, over 1500 Palestinians were killed in Israel's three-week-long operation "Cast Lead."
By Ola Attalah
www.aa.com.tr/en
