Another Palestinian martyred by Israeli strikes on Gaza

By Safiye Karabacak

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Another Palestinian was martyred by Israeli airstrikes inside the blockaded Gaza Strip on Tuesday, bringing the total death toll since Sunday to 14, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

An Israeli warplane targeted a group of Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip, instantly martyring 29-year-old Khaled Karam Maarouf, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra said in a statement.

Since Monday, at least seven Palestinians have been martyred -- by Israeli airstrikes and artillery -- across the blockaded coastal enclave.

The Israeli army claims the attacks are in response to rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel.

On Sunday night, seven Palestinians were martyred -- including a senior Hamas commander -- in a botched Israeli ground operation inside the Gaza Strip.

At least one Israeli officer was killed, while another was injured, during the deadly incursion.

Since March 30, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred by Israeli army gunfire -- and thousands more injured -- while taking part in ongoing rallies along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone.