Israeli artillery on Saturday bombarded the Gaza Strip. Eye witnesses reported that the artillery bombardment, the first of its kind since the Israeli attack on Gaza, started at 4 pm local time on the towns of Beit Hanoun, Jabalya and Khan Yunis. Hours before the bombardment, the Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets asking the Palestinian population in Gaza, especially in the north, to evacuate their homes. An Egyptian security guard on the eastern border with the Gaza Strip was injured in his right arm yesterday. Soldier Ali Abul Makarem was hit by a bullet coming out of the Gaza Strip during his service south of the Salaheddin Gate in Egyptian Rafah, a security source said.
The Israeli fighters have launched 25 new raids on northern, central and southern Gaza Strip, taking the death toll to 439 people. On the other hand, Hamas militants continued firing Russian "Grad" rockets and primitive mortar shells on Be'er Sheva and Majdal without causing injuries. For its part, Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, confirmed that it had aborted an attempt by the Israeli special forces to penetrate into Al-Shuga'ya district.
As for the international efforts to reach a cease-fire, the United Nations Special Envoy for the Middle East Robert Serry called for a comprehensive truce in Gaza to be fully respected and for an end to the Israeli siege which may allow an international presence in Gaza.
Angry demonstrations were staged worldwide against the Israeli aggression. The most important one was in Washington.
