Death toll climbs to 20 from violence in Gaza

The toll in Gaza stood at 20 dead Gaza – Mohammed Habib Two Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes near the Gaza town of Khan Yunis on Monday morning, bringing the toll in three days of violence to 20, according to Palestinian medics. A first man , named as 24-year-old Suleiman Abu Mutlaq, was killed in a raid east of Khan Yunis, while the second, who was not immediately named, was killed when a strike hit his motorbike south of Khan Yunis, medical sources said.
On Sunday, three Palestinians were killed in new Israeli air raids in Gaza, as the Palestinian resistance fired more rockets into the Jewish state.
Israeli war planes carried out four strikes on Sunday morning, killing three people, including a school boy and a 60-year-old man who medics said was a civilian.
On Sunday afternoon, the toll in Gaza stood at 18 dead and 30 injured, Palestinian medics said. Four people in Israel were injured by rockets.
The latest fatalities included 12-year-old Ayub Asaliya, killed on his way to school in Jabaliya refugee camp and 60-year-old Adel Saleh al-Issi. There were no details on a third fatality.
A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the air force had hit a site for firing long-range Iranian-built Fajr-5 missiles at Israel.
"The IAF destroyed launching pits of Fajr long-range rockets that can hit Tel Aviv," Ofir Gendelman wrote in a posting on Twitter. "This is the result of meticulous intelligence work."
The army had no immediate comment on Gendelman's remarks.
The bloodshed erupted on Friday afternoon when an Israeli strike killed the leader of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), sparking a sharp cross-border exchange, in which 15 Gazans were killed and more than 100 rockets were fired at Israel.
It was the deadliest 24-hour period in and around Gaza in more than three years.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak stated that violence with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip may last two more days.
"The current round with Gaza is far from resolution, and we must remain vigilant and alert in the face of a potential terror attack from the Sinai," Barak said in a statement from his office Saturday.
Barak also announced that he will seek to have the further development of missile interceptor systems declared a national emergency project, following the success of the Iron Dome in intercepting rockets and missiles fired against Israeli cities from Gaza.
Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot’s Military analyst Alex Fishman said in his column Sunday that the current escalation in the Gaza region was planned in advance. The IDF in fact set up an “ambush,” while the Southern Command prepared thoroughly days ahead of the current flare-up.
The Air Force deployed in advance the three Iron Dome batteries and covered the Gaza Strip skies with a reinforced presence of aircraft. The results are commensurate with these preparations: With the exception of several wounded civilians caught up in the fire while playing basketball, there have been no casualties thus far.
Moreover, he added, all the rockets that were supposed to land in populated areas were intercepted. This impressive military balance sheet grants the political leadership flexibility and the ability to take decisions free from domestic and international pressure.
Fishman went on to say that indeed, the orders to the army are as follows: Should the rocket fire continue beyond the point Israel earmarked, the IDF will be given the green light to expand its activities against the Strip, including ground operations. This red line will be affected by the number of casualties and the stamina of a million and a half Israeli citizens in southern Israel whose daily lives are paralyzed.
Palestinian resistance factions on Sunday continued launching dozens of rockets against Israeli cities in response to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for firing six rockets on Israeli Kissufim military post, while the Mujahideen military brigade announced that they fired two “Hafs” developed missiles into the “Third Eye” settlement and another two missiles into the settlement of “Netivot”.
Last night, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Group of the Martyr Ayman Jouda, issued a military statement saying that they fired “Al-Aqsa-2″ rocket towards the Israeli Kissufim military post.
Israeli sources said that five rockets exploded last night in the Eshkol settlement in the western Negev, no injuries or damages were reported.
A statement from EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton said the bloc "is following with concern the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and in the south of Israel".
"I very much deplore the loss of civilian life. It is essential to avoid further escalation and I urge all sides to re-establish calm."
France also called for restraint and a return to calm in a statement issued by foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero.
Paris was "greatly concerned by the new episode of violence in Gaza and southern Israel," especially as civilians were at risk, the statement said.
"We condemn the firing of rockets and the humanitarian consequences of this violence and deplore the civilian casualties," it added.
Egypt on Saturday condemned the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, calling on Israel to immediately end the air strikes that have claimed the lives of at least 15 Palestinians since Friday.
Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said "Egypt is deeply alarmed" by the Israeli attacks and demands that they immediately stop