Building housing international media hit by Israeli missiles twice in two days
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – One man, described by Israeli media as “an Islamic Jihad terrorist” died when a tower building that houses a number of international media, including Sky News, was hit by Israeli missiles. Sky News in its live coverage blog reports that two people died in the attack that was aimed at a computer company; most reporters had left the Al-Shourouk media centre after an initial attack Sunday.
Conflicting reports are emerging about why 10 members of one family and two of their neighbours were killed when their home was hit by a strong blast Sunday 18 November, “causing the biggest death toll in a single incident since the offensive began last Wednesday,” according to the Guardian. “On Monday morning the Israeli defence force appeared to admit the family had been killed by mistake. The Haaretz website quoted the army as saying their house was either incorrectly pinpointed or a missile malfunctioned.”
The Los Angeles Times says that Hamas replied by sending 114 rockets into southern Israel; five people were injured. “Though Israel has expressed pride over its five-day military campaign for limiting civilian casualties, the strike against the Dalu home in Gaza City was likely to test the limits of international support it has received in the battle to stop militants from firing rockets at Israeli cities.”
Conflicting reports are also coming from Israel and Palestine about a possible ceasefire, with talks underway in Cairo, Egypt. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is joining the talks, after demanding an immediate ceasefire in the six-day-old fighting.
The Jerusalem Post says it was told Monday by an Israeli official that Israel has “agreed to briefly hold off on sending ground forces into Gaza, to allow time for cease-fire efforts to continue.”
