Conflicts & War

Israel-Gaza death toll rises as UN warns of ‘full-scale war’

(Update 3: updates death toll, adds details)

Gaza, May 12 (EFE).- The death toll from exchanges of airstrikes and rocket fire between Israel and militant groups in the Gaza Strip climbed again on Wednesday, as the United Nations’ Middle East envoy warned of “full-scale war.”

At least 48 people, including 14 children and three women, have been killed in the Israeli airstrikes, the Gazan health ministry said on Wednesday. More than 300 people have been wounded.

Israeli defense officials said militants in Gaza fired an anti-tank missile into Israel on Wednesday, which killed one person and wounded two, one of whom is in a serious condition.

A total of six people — including an Indian citizen — have died in Israel since the flare-up of violence on Monday.

Israel says it has carried out over 500 airstrikes that have killed 20 militants, in retaliation for the hundreds of rockets that have been fired from the Gaza Strip.

Most of the Israeli airstrikes were launched in the early hours of Wednesday morning, targeting buildings in the western part of Gaza that house the security apparatus of the Hamas movement, which governs the enclave.

The IDF has said it is trying to reduce “collateral damage” and “minimize” civilian casualties in Gaza.

A military spokesman said that Israeli forces are acting “under the same guidelines” as the 2014 conflict, when up to 2,310 Gazans were killed. Sixty-seven Israeli soldiers, five Israeli civilians and one Thai civilian were also killed during the unrest that year.

In the early hours of Wednesday, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, called on both sides “stop the fire immediately.”

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