Israeli troops pushed deeper into the Rafah refugee camp yesterday, undeterred by the international outcry after at least eight Palestinians were killed by Israeli tank fire as they demonstrated against the military operation.
Five Palestinians were killed early yesterday, bringing the death toll for the Rafah operation to 37.
Many of the casualties in Wednesday's attack were children. Adding to world anger were the sight of bloodied children and reports of overwhelmed doctors treating dozens of wounded on blood-drenched hospital floors.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Israel apologized for the deaths, saying its troops did not deliberately fire on marchers, but blamed the Palestinians, claiming gunmen mixed with the crowd.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning the loss of life and Israel's demolition of homes. The US abstained, the first time in nearly two years that it didn't exercise its veto on a resolution sharply critical of Israel.
Brigadier General Ruth Yaron, the army's chief spokeswoman, said yesterday that the offensive -- the largest in Gaza in years -- will continue until troops obliterate weapons-smuggling tunnels and round up militants.
Early yesterday, an Israeli missile strike killed three in the Rafah camp. The army said gunmen were approaching Israeli forces. Hours later, troops fired a tank shell and killed two near the border, Palestinian doctors said.
Since Israel launched its operation early on Tuesday, 37 Palestinians have been killed. Dozens have been wounded, and refugees have been dealing with power outages and lack of water.
Israel raided the refugee camp less than a week after Palestinian militants killed 13 soldiers in Gaza.
By yesterday morning, the army had taken control of four neighborhoods in the camp, home to nearly 60,000 people..
Palestinian men in the Rafah neighborhood of Tel Sultan gathered on the main street to be questioned by Israeli soldiers. Minutes later, the army fired a tank shell at the demonstration headed in the direction of Tel Sultan.
Ghada Abu Jazar, 33, said her husband had left their home in Tel Sultan for Israeli questioning and not returned. "Since then, I know nothing about him," she said. "Words can't describe what we went through last night: Shooting, explosions, complete darkness and the screams of children."
Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a senior aide to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, welcomed the US abstention and called on the US government to "force Israel to accept international forces here to protect the Palestinian people."
Israel appeared unconcerned about the US vote. Raanan Gissin, an aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, attributed the abstention to the "delicate situation in which the United States finds itself."
Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz insisted the operation "is necessary and essential for the security of Israel ... and will continue as long as necessary."
A preliminary army investigation concluded that a warning shot fired by a tank meant to disperse Wednesday's protest had flown through a building and hit the crowd, security sources said. They spoke on condition of anonymity.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat called the deaths a "massacre that stands against all humane, civilized and political principles."
Dr. Ali Moussa, director of the Rafah hospital, said yesterday that eight people were confirmed dead, including six people under 18. He said 55 were wounded, several in serious condition.
The fighting has revived debate inside Israel on its continued presence in Gaza. Sharon has proposed withdrawing from the volatile area, but his Likud Party rejected the proposal.
The US said Wednesday's deaths "serve as a grim reminder of the wisdom" of Israel pulling out of Gaza.
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