Tens of Palestinians, including children, suffered temporary asphyxiation late Thursday after inhaling "poisonous gases" released by Israeli troops during incursions into the Gaza Strip, according to a Palestinian health official.
"The victims, who had been taken to hospitals in northern and southern Gaza Strip, had reported inhaling white poisonous gas emanating from shells fired by the Israeli artillery on northern and southern Gaza Strip," Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qodra said in a statement.
He called on Gazans to use nylon coats to protect their bodies and also firmly seal their doors and windows with wet pieces of clothing.
The Israeli military had staged incursions into northern and southern Gaza Strip.
A spokesman of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced earlier the start of a ground operation against the blockaded coastal enclave.
Since July 7, Israeli warplanes have pounded the Strip with the ostensible aim of halting rocket fire from the Palestinian territory.
At least 246 Palestinians have been killed in the unrelenting Israeli airstrikes.
Gaza-based resistance factions, for their part, have continued to fire rockets at Israel – some of which have reached Tel Aviv.
Israel's military operation, dubbed "Operation Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the embattled Gaza Strip – home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – in the last six years.
By Mustafa Haboosh
englishnews@aa.com.tr
http://www.aa.com.tr/en
