Israel Continues Strikes Against Gaza Targets
By VOA News
30 June 2006
Israeli tank near Gaza
Israeli aircraft have continued to strike targets in the Gaza strip in spite of demands by Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh that Israel stop its offensive.
The air attacks late Friday and early Saturday hit training camps used by militants and other buildings in Gaza. Israel is conducting the attacks to pressure Hamas militants to release an Israeli soldier kidnapped on Sunday.
Israeli television reported Friday that a Palestinian doctor had visited the soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, and treated his wounds at an undisclosed location in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, in an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Palestinian diplomats called on the panel to pass a resolution condemning Israel＇s offensive, but no vote was taken after U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said he did not believe a resolution was advisable.
At the U.N., Palestinian observer Riyad Mansour said Israel was conducting a military operation against a defenseless civilian population.
Israel＇s deputy U.N. ambassador Daniel Carmon disagreed, saying the Israeli army＇s presence is limited to a small area and has the sole aim of preventing Corporal Shalit from being smuggled outside the Gaza Strip.
In remarks after Friday prayers, Palestinian Prime Minister Haniyeh said his government is continuing to function, even though nearly a third of its cabinet ministers are in Israeli custody.
Israeli forces Thursday arrested more than 60 Hamas members, including eight government ministers, in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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