The ongoing Israeli airstrikes on besieged Gaza strip killed 18 people so far including a pregnant woman, a 15-month-old child, and a Hamas commander even though the Israeli military said it has hit hundreds of targets in Gaza "belonging to Palestinian militant groups."
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The attacks drew criticism from international players.
Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan slammed the attacks calling them “Israeli terrorism” after the strikes destroyed the Turkish state media office in Gaza.
“We strongly condemn Israel’s attack against Anadolu agency’s office in Gaza,” he said on Twitter. “Turkey and Anadolu agency will continue to tell the world about Israeli terrorism and atrocities in Gaza and other parts of Palestine despite such attacks.”
Saeb Erekat, Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), called on the international community to restore calm.
“We hold the Israeli government fully responsible for this aggression and call upon Egypt the UN and others in the international community to continue exerting every possible effort to restore calm,” Erakat said.
PLO Executive Committee member Hanan Ashwari also condemned the attack as war crimes against Palestinians.
“Israel has turned Gaza into the largest open-air prison in the world, choking life and hope out of the besieged and occupied territory while indiscriminately bombarding heavily populated civilian areas, including seven residential buildings that were completely destroyed, four houses, three media offices, and a mosque,” Ashwari said.
Ashwari also condemned the United States President Donald Trump's “blind and amoral support” which has emboldened Israel to assault Palestinians with impunity.
Iran’s foreign minister also condemned the “savage” attack by Israel and criticized “unlimited American [U.S.] support.”
Nickolay Mladenov, the U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process condemned the violence and said that the U.N. is working with both parties for an immediate ceasefire.
He said, “Continuing down the current path of escalation will quickly undo what has been achieved and destroy the chances for long term solutions to the crisis. This endless cycle of violence must end, and efforts must accelerate to realize a political solution to the crisis in Gaza.”
The European Union called for the rocket fire to “stop immediately.”
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called on the international community to protect Palestinians and compel Israel to respect international laws.