Humanitarian efforts fall victim to fierce fighting

WITH Israeli troops now in control of many of the open areas used by militants to launch rockets, gunman have continued shooting from inside populated neighbourhoods.

Heavy clashes were reported late yesterday afternoon in the north-east of Gaza City as Israeli troops advanced under the cover of Apache helicopters firing machine guns.

Fares Alwan, 49, said he was eating with his family when their house came under fire. “I took my kids and wife and started running away for cover,” said Alwan.