[Published: Thursday May 13 2021]
As Gaza war escalates, new front opens in Israeli cities
JERUSALEM, 13 May. - (ANA) - Rioting and mob violence between Arabs and Jews tore through towns and cities across Israel. Rockets from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes continued to kill civilians.
An alarmed UN has warned of the possibility of “all out war” in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas as a third consecutive day of violence saw the death toll climb above 70. World leaders urged both sides to pull back from the edge and Joe Biden, facing his first major foreign policy test as US president, backed Israel and said he was hopeful the trading of airstrikes and rocket fire would end soon, following a phone call with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
“My expectation and hope is this will be closing down sooner than later, but Israel has a right to defend itself,” Mr Biden told reporters after the call. Events on the ground though could undermine any optimism about a swift end to the violence, the worst since 2014.
Earlier, Mr Netanyahu said his country would inflict blows on Hamas “that they couldn’t even dream of”.
Benny Gantz, the Israeli defence minister, said his country was not preparing for a ceasefire and would stop military action only when it had achieved “complete quiet”. - (ANA) -
AB/ANA/13 May 2021 - - -
|