Obama laments death of Ghaza civilians

Conflict// The United States will use its entire diplomatic means to secure a deal on a ceasefire to end violence between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza strip, President Barack Obama has said. Laying emphasis on the need to protect civilians, he said Israel has a right to defend itself against rocket attacks, but lamented the deaths of civilians in Gaza. Obama said the US supports Egypt’s continued efforts to restore the 2012 ceasefire and added that the US was working with its partners in the region to secure a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian families are fleeing their homes, as Israel intensified airstrikes on Hamas targets, including homes of the movement’s leaders, following failed Egyptian ceasefire efforts. The website of the Gaza interior ministry said Israel warplanes carried out dozens of air strikes, including those of senior Hamas leaders Mahmoud Zahar, Jamila Shanti, Fathi Hamas and Ismail Ashkar. Zahar was a key figure in Hamas’ violent takeover of Gaza in 2007, while the other three were members of the Palestinian parliament elected in 2006. Many Hamas leaders have gone into hiding since the beginning of the Israeli offensive. Before bombardment, Israel had asked its residents of border areas to evacuate their homes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had “shut the door to a diplomatic solution” and bore “sole responsibility for the continuation of the violence”.