WASHINGTON, D.C. – Israeli air strikes overnight in Gaza brought the death toll to surpass 100, including at least 70 civilians, according to medical officials in Gaza. More than 700 have been injured.
In Israel, a Palestinian rocket hit a fuel tanker at a gas station causing an explosion and seriously wounding one. No deaths have been reported.
U.S. President Barack Obama phoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to offer to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the White House said in a statement.
“The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement,” according to the statement.
International pressure builds on Israel to end its offensive. Many world leaders have condemned the airstrikes and a spokeswoman for the United Nations human rights office said Israel might be violating laws of war.
“We have received disturbing reports that many of the civilian casualties, including of children, occurred as a result of strikes on homes,” said Ravina Shamdasani. “Such reports raise doubts about whether the Israeli airstrikes have been in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”
Egypt’s foreign ministry said, “Egypt condemns these hostilities, which led to the killing and injury of tens of Palestinians,” and called on Israel to stop “all collective punishment.”
However, it does not seem that Netanyahu has a ceasefire on his agenda. In a speech Friday, he said that the operation in Gaza will continue and that “no international pressure” will cause Israel to suspend its offensive.