Gaza Strip Violence: 85 Palestinian Bodies Found Under Rubble During Temporary Cease-Fire
At the start of a temporary cease-fire, the death toll in the Gaza Strip reached over 900 Palestinians and three dozen Israelis who have been killed after almost three weeks of brutal fighting and bloodshed.
On Saturday, both Israel and Hamas agreed to start a 12-hour "humanitarian truce" at 8 a.m. local time. However, it was discovered that at least 85 Palestinians bodies were lying beneath rubble in the enclave, reported The Telegraph.
In the meantime, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with foreign ministers from Europe and the Middle East in Paris to call for an extension on the temporary ceasefire.
"We all call on parties to extend the humanitarian ceasefire currently in force, by 24 hours that could be renewed," France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced after the meeting.
"We all want to obtain a lasting cease-fire as quickly as possible that addresses both Israeli requirements in terms of security and Palestinian requirements in terms of socio-economic development."
In order to come to a resolution, Hamas has insisted that Israel must guarantee to lift its eight-year blockade of Gaza, while Israeli officials have called for a truce deal that includes the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip.
To help Palestinian refugees who have been forced to flee from their homes, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced last week that the U.S. will send $47 million in humanitarian aid. The Associated Press reported that $15 million of the aid will be directed towards the United Nations' refugee mission in Gaza.
"We are deeply concerned about the consequences of Israel's appropriate and legitimate effort to defend itself," Kerry said. "No country can stand by while rockets are attacking it, and tunnels are dug in order to come into your country and assault your people," according to the Times of India.
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