Israeli fighter jets continued to pummel the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Wednesday, flattening residential buildings and killing at least four Palestinians, including a journalist.
The latest raids came as Palestinian groups launched more rockets towards cities in southern Israel. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Earlier, Israeli forces shot dead four other Palestinians and wounded scores more during protests and a historic general strike in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The strike was called in support of Palestinians under Israeli bombardment in Gaza.
At least 220 Palestinians, including 63 children, have been killed in Gaza since the latest violence flared on May 10. About 1,500 Palestinians have been wounded.
Twelve people in Israel have died, including two children, while at least 300 Israelis have been wounded.
Despite the escalating violence – now in its tenth day – diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers have failed to make much headway.
The United States continued to block the UN Security Council from issuing a joint statement urging an end to the hostilities, telling diplomats that a public statement would not help calm the tensions.
France, however, said it was working with Israel’s neighbours, Egypt and Jordan, on a new ceasefire resolution.
China said it was “supportive” of the French proposal.
Here are the latest updates:
Chile’s Palestine community protest against Israeli raids
Chile’s Palestinian community – the largest outside the Middle East with more than 300,000 people – staged a protest in Santiago on Tuesday, denouncing Israel’s deadly air attacks against Gaza.
More than a thousand people met at the Club Palestino football headquarters in eastern Santiago, the AFP news agency reported.
Palestinians and pro-Palestinian supporters protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza amid Israeli-Palestinian fighting, in Santiago, Chile May 18, 2021 [Ivan Alvarado/ Reuters]
Maurice Kahmis, president of the Palestinian Community of Chile, said the protesters wanted to add “to the demonstrations that have taken place around the world… and also to support the hundreds of Palestinian civilian victims who have died in these Israeli attacks and bombings”.
Israel dropped 122 bombs on Gaza in 25 minutes
The Israeli military dropped 122 bombs on Gaza during a 25 minute period on Tuesday night, the Times of Israel reported.
The raids, which began at 10pm local time, targeted an underground Hamas tunnel network in Gaza, the website said, quoting military spokesman, Hidai Zilberman.
Radio journalist killed in Gaza
A fourth Palestinian was killed in Israel’s continuing raids on Gaza Strip, according to local media.
Yusef Abu Hussein was a journalist at the radio station, al-Aqsa Voice, according to the Wafa news agency and the Shehab news agency.
ارتقاء الصحفي في إذاعة صوت الأقصى يوسف أبو حسين جراء قصف منزله فجر اليوم بحي الشيخ رضوان #غزة_الآن #غزة_تحت_القصف #غزة_تقاوم #GazaUnderAttackk pic.twitter.com/rYl3kU4qtP
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) May 19, 2021
Israeli jets hit Gaza, three Palestinians killed
Israel continued to bomb the Gaza Strip as dawn approached on Wednesday, according to local media reports, hitting a residential building in central Gaza City and killing at least three Palestinians.
Three others were also wounded, the Wafa news agency said.
This morning in Gaza pic.twitter.com/Xqyzvxv0FX
— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) May 19, 2021
Palestinian armed groups also continued firing rockets towards Israel.
An AFP photographer reported streaks of light in the sky late on Tuesday as Israel’s air defence system intercepted the rockets.
UN chief appeals for humanitarian funding for Gaza
Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, called on the international community to ensure adequate funding for the global body’s humanitarian operations in Gaza.
“We are seeing immense human suffering and extensive damage to homes and vital infrastructure in Gaza,” he said in a tweet.
We are seeing immense human suffering and extensive damage to homes and vital infrastructure in Gaza.
I call on the international community to ensure adequate funding for our humanitarian operations in Gaza. https://t.co/lbKUIbhulU
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) May 18, 2021
Earlier, the UN’s humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock called on Israel to provide “unimpeded humanitarian access” to Gaza.
“The crossings with Gaza need to be opened and to remain as such for the entrance of essential and humanitarian supplies, including fuel for basic services and supplies to curb the spread of COVID-19,” he said in a statement.
I’m deeply concerned by the ongoing hostilities between the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel.
In order to support civilians caught in the crisis, we need adequate funding for the response and unimpeded humanitarian access.
My statement: https://t.co/FAFtCf3bt6
— Mark Lowcock (@UNReliefChief) May 18, 2021
Pro-Palestine rallies in New York, Boston, Los Angeles
Hundreds of protesters gathered across the street from the Israeli Consulate in the US city of New York, denouncing Israel’s continuing bombardment of Gaza.
Today, NYC turned up for Palestine as part of a global solidarity campaign in support of the general strike being waged by Palestinians. We will keep fighting until Palestinians are liberated and Palestine is free. (This is only part of the march – cops kicked us off the bridge.) pic.twitter.com/yY8KVVYuDU
— Andy Ratto (@andyratto) May 18, 2021
Rallies in support of Palestine were also held in Boston and Los Angeles.
Boston stands with Palestine! #Boston4Palestine #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/OcJ4bOgEkh
— PSL Boston (@BostonPSL) May 19, 2021
UPDATE: Los Angeles #Palestinian #Palestine #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/M4d022Mui7
— alaa 🌙 (@stanhijabi) May 18, 2021
For all the developments from Tuesday, May 18, go here.
