Israeli Ceasefire 'Not Even On The Agenda' Says Netanyahu, As Obama Calls For Gaza Truce
The Huffington Post UK
Posted: 11/07/2014 07:56 BST | Updated: 11/07/2014 07:59 BST
The United States has said it is prepared to broker a ceasefire
between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, President Barack
Obama told Israel's Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in a phone call.
Thursday saw a dramatic escalation in air strikes on the beleagured
territory. Palestinians reported at least 16 people were killed in
strikes on two homes – occupied by the same family. It was reported that
a beach restaurant in the south of the Strip was hit on Wednesday
evening, where locals were watching the World Cup match, the Guardian reported.
Netanyahu has thus far ruled out any talk of an end to hostilities,
saying it was "not even on the agenda" in a speech to the Israeli
Knesset just hours earlier. "While the campaign has gone as planned
further stages yet await us," he said, calling it a "tough, complex and
complicated campaign."
A ball of fire is seen following an early morning Israeli air strike on Rafah in the southern of Gaza strip
Last night Obama "reiterated the United States’ strong condemnation
of continuing rocket fire into Israel by Hamas and other terrorist
organizations in Gaza and reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself
against these attacks," the White House said in a statement.
But the president expressed concern "about the risk of further
escalation and emphasized the need for all sides to do everything they
can to protect the lives of civilians and restore calm."
"I would remind you who is at fault here, and that is Hamas," State
Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters on Thursday, saying the
militant group were "indiscriminately" firing rockets at southern
Israel, directed at civilian targets.
Asked whether the US backed a potential Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, Psaki replied that it was "no one's preference."
The death toll is now believed to be around 90 in the Gaza Strip, with no one killed or injured in rocket attacks on Israel.
Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner said on Thursday that
Israel had struck more than 320 Hamas targets over Wednesday night and
into Thursday morning, and had mobilised 20,000 reservists for a ground
operation. But such an invasion may not come about, he added, saying the
IDF was focused on an air campaign.
Later on Wednesday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said: "I have
been in contact with the regional and international parties in the last
few days, particularly Hamas leaders in Gaza, and everyone I've talked
to expressed his willingness to restore the truce and stop the
escalation," adding that the Israeli actions against Gaza was
"orchestrated and brutal aggression".
Gaza Israel Airstrikes
Smoke rises after an airstrike by Israeli forces in the south of Gaza City, 09 July 2014.
An Israeli missile hits smuggling tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza
Strip, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 9, 2014.
Smoke rises after an airstrike by Israeli forces in the south of Gaza City, 09 July 2014.
Israeli missiles hit smuggling tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip,
in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 9, 2014.
An Israeli missile hits smuggling tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza
Strip, in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 9, 2014.
Smoke trails are seen after missiles were fired by Palestinian militants
from Gaza City towards southern Israel, Wednesday, July 9, 2014.
Smoke and debris rise after an Israeli strike on the Gaza Strip seen
from the Israeli side of the Israel Gaza Border, Wednesday, July 9,
2014. Since the Gaza offensive began Tuesday, Israel has attacked more
than 400 sites in Gaza, killing at least 32 people in a military
operation it says is aimed at quenching rocket fire against Israel. Only
four rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel overnight, the army
said. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
An Israeli missile hits an area in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 9, 2014. The Israeli army on Wednesday intensified its offensive on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, striking Hamas sites and killing more than a dozen of people on the second day of a military operation it says is aimed at quenching rocket fire against Israel. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)
A Palestinian salvages what he can from a house after it was hit by an
Israeli missile strike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 9,
2014.
Palestinian children walk in the rubble of a destroyed house a day after
an Israeli strike, in the town of Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip,
Wednesday, July 9, 2014.
A Palestinian boy plays in the rubble of a destroyed house the day after
an Israeli strike in the town of Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip,
Wednesday, July 9, 2014. The Israeli army on Wednesday intensified its
offensive on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, striking Hamas sites and killing
more than a dozen people on the second day of a military operation it
says is aimed at quenching rocket fire against Israel. (AP Photo/Khalil
Hamra)
Palestinians check a destroyed house a day after an Israeli strike late
Tuesday, in the town of Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday,
July 9, 2014. The Israeli army on Wednesday intensified its offensive on
the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, striking Hamas sites and killing more than a
dozen people on the second day of a military operation it says is aimed
at quenching rocket fire against Israel. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
A fireball rises following an Israeli missile strike on the Rafah
refugee camp in southern Gaza Strip, early Wednesday, July 9, 2014. The
Israeli army on Wednesday intensified its offensive on the Hamas-run
Gaza Strip, striking Hamas sites and killing at least 11 people on the
second day of a military operation it says is aimed at quenching rocket
fire against Israel. Only four rockets were fired from Gaza toward
Israel overnight, the army said. (AP Photo)
A Palestinian removes rubble near a
damaged building belonging to a senior Hamas official following an
Israeli missile strike in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza
Strip, Wednesday, July 9, 2014. The Israeli army on Wednesday
intensified its offensive on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, striking Hamas
sites and killing at least 11 people on the second day of a military
operation it says is aimed at quenching rocket fire against Israel. Only
four rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel overnight, the army
said. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
Palestinian mourners carry bodies of the five members of the Hamad
family who were killed in an Israeli missile strike late Tuesday, in
town of Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 9, 2014. The
Israeli army on Wednesday intensified its offensive on the Hamas-run
Gaza Strip, striking Hamas sites and killing more than a dozen of people
on the second day of a military operation it says is aimed at quenching
rocket fire against Israel. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Children read while sitting in a street shelter, in anticipation of Code
Red sirens alerting of incoming rockets, on July 11, 2014 in Nitzan,
Israel. (Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images)
Palestinians climb over a gate as they try to cross to Egypt, at the
border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in Rafah, July 10, 2014. (AP
Photo/Eyad Baba)
The United States has said it is prepared to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, President Barack Obama told Israel's Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in a phone call.
Gaza Israel Airstrikes
PHOTO: Taking Shelter
Children read while sitting in a street shelter, in anticipation of Code Red sirens alerting of incoming rockets, on July 11, 2014 in Nitzan, Israel. (Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/Getty Images)
Palestinians climb over a gate as they try to cross to Egypt, at the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in Rafah, July 10, 2014. (AP Photo/Eyad Baba)
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