Gaza unrest: two Palestinians killed in West Bank protest
At least two Palestinians are killed and 200 wounded in the West Bank during massive protests as shelling continues in Gaza.
The violence followed a day of fierce fighting across Gaza, with at least 119 Palestinians killed and many others wounded, making it the bloodiest day of the 17-day war.
That raised the overall Palestinian death toll to at least 803, according to Gaza health officials. Israel has lost 32 soldiers, all since 17 July, when it widened its air campaign into a full-scale ground war.
Two Israeli civilians and a Thai worker in Israel have also been killed by rocket or mortar fire.
West Bank march
Thousands of Palestinians protesting against the fighting in Gaza clashed with Israeli soldiers as the violence spread to the West Bank. At least two Palestinian were killed and dozens were injured in Qalandia, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, a Palestinian doctor said.
The violence came after a UN school in Gaza crowded with hundreds of Palestinians seeking refuge from fierce fighting came under fire, killing at least 15 civilians.
Israeli troops and tanks on Friday were deployed near Gaza border as Israel’s offensive against Gaza militants entered its 18th day.
More than 140,000 Palestinians have fled during 17 days of fighting between Israel and Gaza militants, many of them seeking shelter in buildings run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Israeli forces are trying to stop militants from Hamas and their allies from firing rockets into its territory.
UN school
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed horror at the Thursday attack on the school at Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza strip. “Many have been killed – including women and children, as well as UN staff,” he said in a statement. “Circumstances are still unclear. I strongly condemn this act.”
Mr Ban later arrived at Cairo where he was expected to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry, who has been trying to broker a truce. Mr Kerry’s spokesman said the school attack “underscores the need to end the violence”.
But there was no sign of progress on securing a ceasefire in his four days in the region. “Gaps remain between the parties,” a senior US official said, adding that Mr Kerry would not stay “for an indefinite amount of time”.
The Israeli military said it was investigating the school incident.
