Haniyeh denounces massacre, Hamas promises retaliation

Members of the civil defence search for victims under the rubble Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has urged the international scene to take responsibility and act against Israel. The Hamas leader condemned the massacre of the Al-Dalu family which he described as an "unimaginably heinous massacre". Haniyeh also said that the death would be “a new axe with which the Israeli occupation will be torn down.”
Hamas accused Israel and held the Jewish state responsible for all the killings. Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri said “the blood of the al-Dalu family will be a curse upon the occupation.”
The al-Qassam Brigades promised retaliation for the incident, saying that “The massacre of the al-Dalu family will not go unpunished.”
Eleven Palestinian civilians, most of whom women and children, were killed when an Israeli F-16 targeted the home of the al-Dalu family on Sunday afternoon. The residence is located in the al-Nassr district, west of Gaza.
Adham Abu Selmeya, spokesperson for the local emergency services, told Arabstoday that those killed in the attack are Mohammed al-Dalu and his four children. Six other members of the al-Dalu family were killed as well. Twelve people were injured.
Two people were also killed when a civilian car was targeted near the Itissalat area in the Jebaliya refugee camp, north of the Gaza Strip.
Seven people, including four children, were also injured when Israeli air strikes targeted al-Dana Tower in Gaza City, according to medical sources.
The bombardment of Gaza has been going on since Wednesday, as the Israeli offensive began with the assassination of al-Qassam Brigades leader Ahmed al-Jabari in Gaza.
Four Israelis were also injured Sunday when a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit the south of Israel, as Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak indicated that a ground invasion of the strip was imminent.
Israeli emergency service Red Star of David (MDA) said that 4 Israelis were injured when a Palestinian rocket landed in the town of Ofakim.
In a visit this afternoon to an Iron Dome battery site accompanied by US Ambassador to Tel Aviv Dan Shapiro, Barak said that the Israeli army was “prepared for a ground operation” adding that Israel “will not hesitate, should the need arise."
Israel has declared the objectives of Operation Pillar of Defence to be restoring calm to southern Israel by ending rocket attacks launched from Gaza and reinstating a deterrent force against Hamas and other armed factions operating in the Gaza Strip.
Barak praised the capabilities of the Iron Dome systems, which have been able to intercept a large number of Palestinian rockets. He also thanked the US for its help in developing the air shield systems with its contribution of $300 million.