"We urge the world, stop the bombing of Gaza. Please stop it."
Al Jazeera Saturday, January 10, 2009
18:10 Mecca time, 15:10 GMT
The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 821 people and more than 3,300 injured as the Israeli offensive enters its third week.The attacks continued on Saturday with aerial bombardments across the strip and Israeli forces advancing further into the outskirts of Gaza City.
Eight members of one family were among the latest fatalities, killed by an Israeli tank shell in Jabalya.
Israeli aircraft bombed tunnels used to smuggle goods from Egypt into the besieged territory, weapons-manufacturing sites and depots, an Israeli army spokesman said.
Ayman Mohyeldin, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Gaza City, said: "There was a lot of intense fighting overnight.
"The most significant development was the advance of the Israeli military.
"We understand now they are on the outskirts of Gaza City, still trying to avoid going in through major population centres, but navigating their way around those urban areas on the periphery."
Israel dropped leaflets of Gaza City on Saturday warning residents not to approach Hamas members, the group's fighters or weapons depots.
The notices said Israeli forces were about to "escalate" the offensive and begin a "new phase in the war on terror".
Mads Gilbert, a Norwegian doctor working at Shifa hospital in Gaza City, told Al Jazeera: "We have been to many war zones, but the special thing is that the 1.5 Gaza population are completely locked in.
"The civilian population has no way to hide. The population density is so high you can not do attacks like this without knowing that you are attacking the civilians.
"Also, the injuries must come from extremely explosive devices. We suspect that Israel is using a new type of high explosive called Dime [dense inert metal explosive].
"We urge the world, stop the bombing of Gaza. Please stop it."
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