Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, called on Wednesday for international action to stop Israel from carrying out "atrocities" against the Palestinian people that amounted to genocide.
"I am saddened and disappointed to note the silence of international community against this injustice,” Sharif was quoted by Pakistan's Nation newspaper as saying.
“World must stop Israel from this naked and brutal aggression," he added, stating that "the silence and ineffectiveness of Muslim nations has made Palestinians more vulnerable and made Israel more aggressive."
As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continued into the ninth day, the Israeli military announced a 6 hour humanitarian truce on Thursday between 10am and 4pm.
In a statement, the IDF spokesperson's office was quoted by the Times of Israel as saying:
However, a senior Israeli military official told the New York Times meanwhile the possibility of a ground invasion into Gaza remained "very high".
“If you want to efficiently fight terrorism you must be present, boots on the ground,” he told the paper, adding that “every day that passes makes the possibility more evident."
Today four Palestinian children were killed in Gaza city on a beach, by Israeli navy shelling. The Telegraph reported witnessing the shelling along with other foreign journalists in Gaza.
Urging a ceasefire, the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he intended to meet with Hamas leaders in Cairo this week.
Abbas "wants a ceasefire to end the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip," a senior Fatah leader, Nabil Shaath, was quoted by Turkey's Daily Sabah newspaper as saying during a press conference on Wednesday in Ramallah.
"Abbas' talks in Cairo will focus on a ceasefire and how to stop Israel's barbaric attack on Gaza," Shaath said.
Israel resumed air strikes in Gaza on Tuesday, as a ceasefire agreement proposed by Egypt collapsed. The ceasefire proposal, accepted by Israel, was rejected by Hamas’ military wing, which said that the key demands of the Palestinian people were not addressed.
Condemning Israel's acceptance of Egypt's ceasefire proposal, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman called for Gaza to be occupied. “An end result to the operation would see the IDF control Gaza,” the Times of Israel quoted him as saying.
Violence between the two sides has escalated with Israel launching continuous air strikes over Gaza and rockets fired into Israel by Hamas, despite a call from the UN Security Council for a ceasefire.
The conflict has also led to thousands fleeing northern Gaza, with over 17,000 seeking refuge within UN buildings said UN officials earlier this week. Palestinian authorities said the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 200, whilst Israel announced its first civilian casualty on Tuesday.
The recent episode of violence in the Middle-East began after three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and found dead. Israel launched air strikes over Gaza, accused Hamas of carrying out the crime. Hamas has denied this accusation. In a suspected revenge attack, a Palestinian teenager was burnt alive by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
"I am saddened and disappointed to note the silence of international community against this injustice,” Sharif was quoted by Pakistan's Nation newspaper as saying.
“World must stop Israel from this naked and brutal aggression," he added, stating that "the silence and ineffectiveness of Muslim nations has made Palestinians more vulnerable and made Israel more aggressive."
As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continued into the ninth day, the Israeli military announced a 6 hour humanitarian truce on Thursday between 10am and 4pm.
In a statement, the IDF spokesperson's office was quoted by the Times of Israel as saying:
"The IDF will cease operational activity within the Gaza Strip and hold its fire,”
“This humanitarian window is meant to allow the civilian population of the Gaza Strip to engage in resupply for their humanitarian needs.”
“Should the humanitarian window be exploited by Hamas or other terror organizations for the purpose of launching attacks against Israeli civilian or military targets the IDF will respond firmly and decisively.”
However, a senior Israeli military official told the New York Times meanwhile the possibility of a ground invasion into Gaza remained "very high".
“If you want to efficiently fight terrorism you must be present, boots on the ground,” he told the paper, adding that “every day that passes makes the possibility more evident."
Today four Palestinian children were killed in Gaza city on a beach, by Israeli navy shelling. The Telegraph reported witnessing the shelling along with other foreign journalists in Gaza.
Urging a ceasefire, the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he intended to meet with Hamas leaders in Cairo this week.
Abbas "wants a ceasefire to end the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip," a senior Fatah leader, Nabil Shaath, was quoted by Turkey's Daily Sabah newspaper as saying during a press conference on Wednesday in Ramallah.
"Abbas' talks in Cairo will focus on a ceasefire and how to stop Israel's barbaric attack on Gaza," Shaath said.
Israel resumed air strikes in Gaza on Tuesday, as a ceasefire agreement proposed by Egypt collapsed. The ceasefire proposal, accepted by Israel, was rejected by Hamas’ military wing, which said that the key demands of the Palestinian people were not addressed.
Condemning Israel's acceptance of Egypt's ceasefire proposal, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman called for Gaza to be occupied. “An end result to the operation would see the IDF control Gaza,” the Times of Israel quoted him as saying.
Violence between the two sides has escalated with Israel launching continuous air strikes over Gaza and rockets fired into Israel by Hamas, despite a call from the UN Security Council for a ceasefire.
The conflict has also led to thousands fleeing northern Gaza, with over 17,000 seeking refuge within UN buildings said UN officials earlier this week. Palestinian authorities said the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 200, whilst Israel announced its first civilian casualty on Tuesday.
The recent episode of violence in the Middle-East began after three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and found dead. Israel launched air strikes over Gaza, accused Hamas of carrying out the crime. Hamas has denied this accusation. In a suspected revenge attack, a Palestinian teenager was burnt alive by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.