Violence in the Middle East is escalating with Israel to continue pounding Gaza. Another high-rise building in Gaza collapsed on Wednesday after a rocket fired by Israel.
The collapse of the 14-storey building is recorded on video. This is the third building to collapse within 24 hours of an air raid. The building housed offices.
Israel announced that killed 16 members of the Hamas military wing in an airstrike launched today against Gaza and Palestinian fighters fired rockets at Israel as international concern over the escalating hostilities of recent years rises.
At least 53 people have been killed in Gaza since the violence escalated on Monday, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Six people have died in Israel, medical officials said.
The new extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council is without result
Meanwhile New emergency meeting focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict held today (12/05) by the UN Security Council. However, it once again failed to agree on a statement, due to the persistent opposition of the USA to the adoption of any text, according to diplomats.
“The Security Council requested that in addition to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s ongoing inspections in Iran, that it monitor Israel’s compliance with” the steps required by the IAEA Board “. “The United States does not seem to think that a statement helps de-escalate,” said another diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to various sources cited by the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council were in favor of adopting a joint statement which would aim to reduce the intensity. No comment has been made so far by the US mission to the UN.
During the meeting, the UN envoy for the Middle East, Thor Venezland, stressed that “the situation has worsened since Monday,” according to a diplomatic source. “This has been a wide escalation for years,” he added.
As early as Monday, in a first emergency meeting, the United States had rejected a joint text proposed by Tunisia, Norway and China, urging both sides to refrain from any provocation. The US had then explained that it was not sure that a text could help de-escalate.
A senior Hamas commander is dead
The Israeli security service Shin Bet reported that the commander of the brigade for the city of Gaza was among the members of the radical Islamic movement Hamas who were killed.
“It is only the beginning. We will hit them like they never imagined “, said in a statement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Shortly after the announcement, a new rocket fire was fired at the Israeli city of Ashdod, and Israeli media reported that the army was preparing for new shelling in the Tel Aviv area.
Hamas confirmed the death of the commander and the loss of “other leaders and warriors” and said in a statement: “Thousands of leaders and soldiers will follow in their footsteps and become witnesses.”
A Palestinian source said efforts to reach a ceasefire by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations had made no progress in ending violence this week following tensions during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and clashes in East Jerusalem.
The attack is the deadliest between Israel and Hamas since the 2014 war in the Hamas-controlled enclave, and there is growing concern that the situation could escalate and spiral out of control.
In Gaza, a high-rise apartment building collapsed after Israel warned residents to evacuate in advance and another was severely damaged by airstrikes.
Other airstrikes hit rocket launchers, as claimed by the Israeli army, Hamas offices and homes of Hamas leaders. Israeli officials say at least 41 Palestinian militants have been killed so far in hostilities in Gaza.
“Israel went crazy”
“Israel has gone crazy,” said a man on a Gaza street as people ran out of their homes as explosions rocked buildings.
Sixteen people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza today, announced the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Eyewitnesses and health officials in Gaza said an Israeli airstrike had killed three people, including a woman, in a car.
Many Israelis also spent a vigilant night as rocket waves hit the Israeli hinterland.
“The children survived the coronavirus, and now a new trauma,” an Israeli woman in the coastal town of Ashkelon told Channel 11 TV.
Israelis rushed to shelters or lay motionless on sidewalks in some communities far from Gaza.
“All of Israel is under attack. It is a very scary situation “said Margo Aronovic, a 26-year-old student in Tel Aviv.
On the border with Gaza, an Israeli soldier killed by anti-tank missile, said the army. Two people were killed by a rocket in Lod, near Tel Aviv.
Tensions have risen in mixed Arab-Jewish cities in Israel where protests have erupted over hostilities. A synagogue was set on fire in Lod.
“Israeli military action will continue”
Defense Secretary Benny Gandz told reporters Israeli military action will continue until “complete and long-term calm” is achieved.
The US energy company Chevron has announced that it has shut down the Tamar gas platform off the coast of Israel following instructions from the Ministry of Energy. Israel has said its energy needs are still being met.
Hamas said it fired 210 rockets in the direction of Beersheba in southern Israel and Tel Aviv overnight in response to strikes on tall buildings in Gaza City.
“If (Israeli forces) want to escalate, the resistance is ready,” said Hamas leader Ismail Haniya.
For Israel, targeting Tel Aviv, its trading capital, is a new challenge in the confrontation with Hamas, which Israel and the United States classify as terrorist organizations.
Violence followed weeks of violence during Ramadan, with clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem.
These escalated before a court hearing – which has since been canceled – that could lead to the eviction of Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem claimed by Jewish settlers.
The conflict has led to a freeze on Netanyahu’s opponents’ conspiracy to form a governing coalition and oust him following the March 23 election in which no party secured autonomy.
Violent incidents also broke out in the occupied West Bank. Medical sources say a 16-year-old Palestinian was killed today in clashes with Israeli forces. The Gaza Ministry of Health said 14 of the people allegedly killed were children. The Israeli military says it is investigating the allegations and that its priority is to prevent civilian casualties.
Israel has sent infantry and armored vehicles to reinforce tanks already assembled in the area, evoking memories of its latest ground invasion of Gaza to halt rocket attacks in 2014.
Eyewitnesses say Israeli warplanes destroyed the Hamas police headquarters in Gaza City.
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