Israel shells Lebanon as US calls for Gaza ceasefire

Meanwhile, the President of United States (US) Joe Biden held a telephonic conversation with Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and backed a ceasefire, but again blocked a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statement calling for an end to violence.

The White House in a statement said that Joe Biden “encouraged Israel to make every effort to ensure the protection of innocent civilians” and that the two leaders “discussed progress in Israel’s military operations against Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza”.

The latest escalation of tensions between Israel and Hamas, which governs Gaza, has now entered its second week. So far 212 Palestinians, including 61 children, have been killed since the and more than 1,500 are wounded.

On the other hand Israel has reported 10 deaths as a result of retaliatory shelling by Hamas.

Even on Tuesday, explosions lit up the night sky over Gaza City as Israeli forces continued its bombardment on Gaza strip. There were more than 30 Israeli aerial attacks overnight, and also bursts of Palestinian rocket fire.

Palestinian residents of Gaza Strip have marked another deadly Eidul Fitr amid bombardment by Israel. Thousands of Palestinians gathered at Al Aqsa Mosque today to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, one of the holiest days in Islam.

Israeli police, in its latest act of violence, stormed the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque, firing rubber-coated steel rounds, stun grenades and tear gas at Palestinian worshippers inside the mosque in the final days of the holy month of Ramadan.