- Title: MIDDLE EAST: Two Palestinians killed by Israeli air strike amid ceasefire talks
- Date: 17th January 2009
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (JANUARY 16, 2009) (REUTERS) CAR STRUCK BY MISSILE IN GAZA CITY - RESIDENTS GATHER AROUND CAR DAMAGE DONE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR MORE OF DAMAGE A SHOE ON THE FLOORBOARD OF THE CAR RESIDENTS IN AREA BLOOD STAIN IN FRONT OF CAR STRUCK BY MISSILE FIRED BY ISRAELI WAR PLANES VIEW OF RESIDENTS AND CAR
- Embargoed: 1st February 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA978IFHDLUV3SKT4JUJIGJ82OC
- Story Text: As Israel's offensive in Gaza enters its third week, the casualty figure continues to rise despite talks of a possible ceasefire. Doctors in the Hamas-run territory are calling for an international war crimes investigation into what they say is the use of white phosphorous by Israeli forces.
Palestinian sources reported on Friday (January 16) that an air strike on a car in the heart of Gaza City, killed two people who were inside the car when it got struck with a missile.
The two were declared dead and taken to Shifa hospital, witnesses and medics reported. The car was hit in a residential area in Gaza City.
The latest casualties come despite Israel saying its Gaza offensive could be "in the final act" on Friday.
Israel has sent envoys to discuss truce terms after Hamas made a ceasefire offer to end three weeks of fighting that has killed more than 1,100 Palestinians.
However, Israel rebuffed at least two major elements of the ceasefire terms outlined by the Islamist movement, and fighting continued, albeit with less intensity than on Thursday (January 15).
Doctors in Gaza City took time away from their busy work treating the wounded to demand an investigation into the use of white phosphorous, a substance which burns brightly when exposed to air, by the Israeli military.
International law allows for armies to use white phosphorous for limited purposes, like the illumination of a battlefield, but does ban the use of the substance as a weapon.
"We strongly believe that non-conventional weapons had been utilised. There is abundant evidence that white phosphorous had been used in addition to the so-called 'dime bomb'. Based on this evidence, we ask the international authorities to send independent authorised teams to investigate into these war crimes," Doctor Mohammed el Abbadi told reporters.
An Israeli army released video it says shows a combined operation of ground forces, and armoured troops. The video shows Israeli tanks rolling in and around what the army says is Gaza. Some night-time vision footage also provided by the Israeli army showed soldiers firing towards a building.
At least 13 rockets launched by militants in Gaza landed in Israel Friday, the Israeli army said. One person was wounded. Hamas rocket fire has dwindled during the war -- which Israel launched on Dec 27 with the declared aim of crippling Hamas's rocket-firing capacity.
Israeli air strikes killed a total of six Palestinians, five of them guerrillas and one civilian, medics and militants said.
Hamas and diplomatic sources said on Thursday (January 15) that Hamas has offered a one-year, renewable truce on the condition that all Israeli forces withdrew within five to seven days and that all the border crossings with Israel and Egypt would be opened.
Israel wants an open-ended truce and the reinstatement of forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at crossing points into the Gaza Strip, Israeli and Western sources said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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