The Brazilian government has rebuked Israel for its heavy-handed policies against the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip after a full day of bombardment that has inflicted heavy casualties.
Brazil has criticized the Israeli aerial assault on Gaza calling it a "disproportionate response" and called for an immediate end to hostilities. The statement went on to lament the loss of civilian life and called for a negotiated peace settlement for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"The Brazilian government calls on the parties to refrain from further acts of violence and extends its sympathy to families of the victims of the bombing of this morning," an official statement said.
The campaign, codenamed 'Operation Cast Lead' is aimed at destroying Hamas, the militant group who has controlled Gaza for the past 18 months. The Israelis used American-made F-16 fighter jets, helicopter gunships and unmanned aerial vehicles to target Hamas militants and their command centers but have also hit police stations, schools and hospitals. According to Agency reports, the casualties are nearing 1000 after 24 hours with an estimated 230 killed including women and children and a large group of police recruits at their graduation ceremony. The shockingly high death toll is the highest single day total inflicted on the Palestinian population by Israel since the establishment of the state on historic Palestine in 1948.
Sources
Email this
Share on Facebook
Former Senator Rick Santorum surges in weekend Republican polls
Listen
Print
Social Comments ()
Digital Journal Comments (1)
