News Digest

Home of Hamas leader hit by missile; Israeli PM warns of ‘prolonged’ campaign

The home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was hit by an Israeli missile, according to the Gaza Interior Ministry. An Israeli aircraft fired a missile at the house early on Tuesday causing damage but no casualties, the ministry said. It came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Monday that the country faced a prolonged campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israeli leaders have been mulling whether to expand the assault against Hamas in Gaza, or respond to international calls for a truce.

We will continue to act aggressively and responsibly until the mission is completed to protect our citizens, soldiers and children.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

The international community so far has been unable to bring about a cease-fire that would end the fighting, which has already killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, 52 Israeli soldiers and three civilians on the Israeli side. The bloodshed continued as Muslims around the world celebrated the end of a month of fasting. But, for so many in Gaza City, Eid el-Fitr was spent mourning the dead. Fellow mourners looked on glumly Monday as Abeer Shamali caressed the earth under which her dead son lay, and placed pink and white hydrangeas upon the mound of sandy soil where Thaer, 16, was buried four days ago. The boy was killed in Israeli shelling of Shejaiya in eastern Gaza, one of the areas worst-hit by a bloody military operation.