By ELIOR LEVY, JPOST—
The IDF continues to pound terrorist targets in Gaza in full force despite talk of a possible ceasefire. The Palestinian Maan news agency reported of heavy Air Force bombings in the Strip early on Sunday.
Palestinian medical sources were quoted by AFP as saying that an Israeli airstrike hit a Gaza City media building on Sunday, injuring at least six journalists, as a separate raid in northern Gaza killed two people. At least 15 people were injured in the strikes, they said.
“At least six journalists were wounded, with minor and moderate injuries, when Israeli warplanes hit the al-Quds TV office in the Showa and Housari building in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City,” health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said.
Witnesses reported extensive damage to the building, and said journalists in the building had evacuated after an initial strike, which was followed by at least two more on the site.
Reports of IDF strikes surfaced at around 2 am after four hours of relative calm in the south. According to the Palestinians, the IDF bombed targets in Beit Lahia and in the southern Gaza Strip.
Eyewitnesses told the Ma’an news agency that Air Force jets fired at houses as well as a post belonging to Hamas’ military wing, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, in western Rafah. It was further reported that the IDF bombed a Hamas site in western Gaza city.
On Saturday, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi said in a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that there were “indications of an imminent ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians.”
Nevertheless he stressed there were no guarantees. He said that the US, France, Russia and Italy took part in efforts to bring about a lull.
However, rocket fire continued. After hours of relative calm, a rocket exploded in an open area in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. No injuries or damage were reported.
Meanwhile, the Palestinians reported that the IDF killed Khamer Hamri, the commander of the Islamic Jihad’s artillery unit. He was hit in an assault in Deir al-Balah.
