Ceasefire elusive as Israel continues to pound Gaza

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IMAGE COPYRIGHT/ AFP/ A Palestinian elderly man walks past a building destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza City, on May 19, 2021 - Deafening air strikes and rocket fire once more shook Gaza overnight and early today amid an international diplomatic push to broker a ceasefire after more than a week of bloodshed. Warplanes hit Gaza City again in the pre-dawn hours, with the Israeli military continuing to target Palestinian militant leaders and infrastructure in the crowded enclave, under Israeli blockade for nearly 15 years. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)

Israeli jets bomb residential buildings, killing four Palestinians, as diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire remain stalled.

Israeli fighter jets continued to pummel the Gaza Strip in the early hours of Wednesday, flattening residential buildings and killing at least four Palestinians, including a journalist.

The latest raids came as Palestinian groups launched more rockets towards cities in southern Israel. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Earlier, Israeli forces shot dead four other Palestinians and wounded scores more during protests and an historic general strike in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

At least 219 Palestinians, including 63 children, have been killed in Gaza since the latest violence flared on May 10. About 1,500 Palestinians have been wounded.

Twelve people in Israel have died, including two children, while at least 300 Israelis have been wounded.

Despite the escalating violence – now in its tenth day – diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers have failed to make much headway.

The United States continued to block the UN Security Council from issuing a joint statement urging an end to the hostilities, telling diplomats that a public statement would not help calm the tensions.

France, however, says it is working with Israel’s neighbours, Egypt and Jordan, on a new ceasefire resolution. China said it was “supportive” of the French proposal.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA