At least 51 civilians killed in Gaza, Israeli FM calls Turkish counterpart
Güncelleme Tarihi:
At least 51 civilians are among the victims of the massive Israeli blitz on Hamas-run Gaza Strip that has so far killed more than 310 people, a U.N. agency said on Monday. Israeli FM Tzipi Livni telephoned Turkish counterpart to inform him on the events. (UPDATED)
"We have been compiling a list of civilian casualties from medical and hospital sources," said Christopher Gunness, spokesman for the UNRWA agency. "We have 51 confirmed civilian casualties including women and children," AFP quoted him as saying.
The air strikes have also wounded more than 1,400 people, medical officials said.
Israeli warplanes pounded the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip for a third consecutive day on Monday and the Jewish state prepared to launch a possible invasion.
Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said the military action would go on until the population in southern
"(The operation could) take many days," military spokesman Avi Benayahu was quoted by Reuters as saying.
Israel declared areas around Gaza a "closed military zone", citing the risk from Palestinian rocket fire.
Hamas remained defiant and the group's spokesman Fawzi Barhoum urged Palestinian groups to use "all available means, including martyrdom operations" -- a reference to suicide bombings in
BABACAN TALKS TO LIVNI
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan spoke to Livni who telephoned to inform him on events in Gaza Strip. During the conversation, Babacan expressed
"A number of civilians lost their lives in the operation and it caused an outrage both in the Turkish public opinion and in the international community. The ongoing blockade would lead to more humanitarian problems,” Babacan told his Israeli counterpart.
"We are concerned that recent developments could have a negative impact on the security of the entire region. We call on