A senior Israeli officer Monday night told Haaretz that the widespread shelling of Gaza Strip would continue. This came hours after an Israeli shell killed a 9 year old Palestinian girl. It should be noted that in recent days hundreds of artillery shells are being fired daily by Israeli forces, along with air strikes, missiles and cannons from naval vessels offshore. Israel claims the massive bombardment comes in response to rocket fire.
Meanwhile, ambassadors to the United Nations from the Arab states convened Monday at the UN's New York headquarters to discuss strategy regarding the escalation of Israeli military strikes against Palestinian targets.
According to Reuters, they decided to urge the UN Security Council to take unspecified action against Israel. "The international community cannot continue to stand idly by while defenseless women, children and men continue to be killed, wounded and maimed," Palestinian UN Observer Riyad Mansour said. The 15-nation council, "in upholding its duty to maintain international peace and security, should take action," Mansour said.
In another development, the Palestinian government rejected Monday the European Union's decision to suspend direct aid to the Palestinian people. The government's spokesperson, Ghazi Hamad, said that such a decision is illogical and a collective punishment to the Palestinian people for their democratic choice.
According to WAFA, the government called on the EU to take its decision back, appealing to the Arabs and Muslims to support the Palestinian people and their legal government.
