Gaza toll hits 248: Israel starts ground offensive

Gaza toll hits 248: Israel starts ground offensive
Fri Jul 18, 2014 07:58:05

The death toll in Gaza has hit 248 as Israel pressed a ground offensive on the 11th day of a massive operation against Palestinians.

The latest death included a man in Shejaiyeh, east of Gaza city, raising Friday's death toll to seven, emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said. 

Earlier, four people were killed by Israeli fire in several separate incidents in the southern city of Rafah, including a five-month-old baby, Qudra said.

In northern Gaza, two men were killed in tank shelling in Beit Hanun, he said.

According to figures provided by the Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, more than 80 percent of the victims were civilians.

At least 1,920 Palestinians have also been wounded.

Since the Israeli operation began before dawn on July 8, at least 1,150 rockets fired from Gaza have struck Israel, and another 311 have been shot down by the Iron Dome air defense system, army figures show.

On the other side, one Israeli was killed by rocket fire earlier this week, and another four have been seriously injured.

BA/BA

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