Israel steps up deadly Gaza Strip offensive

Israel’s intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip has killed at least 27 people and wounded 130 others, Palestinian officials have said.

Israel on Tuesday said it was ready for a long-term offensive against Hamas in the Palestinian territory after a surge in rocket attacks on Israeli towns.

“We are preparing for a battle against Hamas which will not end within a few days,” Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said in a statement.

Israeli said it had undertaken more than 273 airstrikes against the strip on Tuesday.

The Israeli cabinet has authorised the calling up of 40,000 army reservists ahead of a possible ground offensive. At least 1,500 soldiers have already been deployed around the perimeter of Gaza.

Hafez Hamad, one of the leaders of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, was killed in a strike on his home in Beit Hannoun, neighbours and hospital officials said.

Two children, two females, and one adult male were also reported killed in the attack.

At least five children were among 12 others killed in Gaza on Tuesday, Palestinian officials said.

Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appeared on Palestinian TV late on Tuesday to appeal for international help as renewed conflict between Israel and Hamas continued to escalate.

Abbas said he had been in touch with the various Palestinian factions and leaders of Hamas who, he said, did not want an escalation.

“What’s happening in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem is not a war between two armies,” he said.

“The Palestinian people are an unarmed people, people who live under occupation.

“It’s time now for the international community, and especially the Quartet and the Security Council to take their responsibility to guarantee the international protection of our people.”