GAZA CITY
Palestinian resistance faction Hamas has denounced the Israeli targeting of residential buildings in the blockaded Gaza Strip as a "war crime."
"The destruction of a residential building by the Israeli army – leaving dozens injured and families displaced – is a crime war," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement on Sunday.
On Saturday, Israeli warplanes struck an 11-storey residential building in Gaza City, injuring 19 Palestinians and flattening the building.
Abu Zuhri refuted Israeli claims that the building had housed a Hamas command center.
"The attack came as part of Israel's collective punishment of Palestinian civilians," he said.
Israel resumed airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday following the collapse of indirect, Egypt-hosted talks aimed at hammering out a durable ceasefire deal.
While Israel accused Palestinian factions of breaking a 5-day ceasefire with a rocket barrage, Hamas accused Israel of attempting to derail the truce talks in Cairo.
The relentless Israeli attack left at least 2105 Palestinians, mostly civilians, dead and more than 10,000 others injured since July 7, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Over the same period, at least 68 Israelis – 64 soldiers and four civilians – have been killed, according to Israeli figures.
By Ola Attalah
www.aa.com.tr/en
