8 Palestinians killed by Israeli tank fire in Gaza: medics

By
AFP
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8 Palestinians killed by Israeli tank fire in Gaza: medics
GAZA CITY: Eight Palestinians, including at least two children, were killed by Israeli tank fire in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday, a spokesman for the local emergency services said.

A woman was also among the dead in the attack at Khan Yunes, said spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra.

The eight deaths bring the toll on the Palestinian side to 1,450 since the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip began on July 8.

News of the latest deaths came shortly after both Israel and Hamas agreed to begin a 72-hour ceasefire at 0500 GMT Friday.

The toll of Palestinian dead in IsraelĀ“s 25-day-old Gaza offensive has now surpassed that of a three-week campaign over New Year in 2009.

Gaza emergency services said at least 44 people died in Israeli strikes on Thursday and 13 more succumbed to wounds sustained previously.

Thousands more have been wounded during the current offensive.