Local leaders call for an end to violence in Israel

Local leaders are calling for an end to violence in Israel. The conflict between Israel and Gaza militants is about to enter its second week and neither side is showing signs of backing down. International

News 12 Staff

Jul 15, 2014, 1:39 AM

Updated 4,004 days ago

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Local leaders are calling for an end to violence in Israel.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza militants is about to enter its second week and neither side is showing signs of backing down.
International calls for a cease-fire have done nothing to slow the exchange of firepower between Israeli forces and militants in Gaza.
"Israel has every right to respond in self-defense, protect its citizens and target the terrorists responsible for this ruthless aggression," says Rep. Nita Lowey.
The Israeli military said it downed a drone launched by Gaza militants on Monday, the first time it encountered an unmanned aircraft since the start of its offensive last week, as new Israeli airstrikes killed four more Palestinians in the coastal strip.
Israel began its campaign against militants in the Hamas-controlled Gaza last Tuesday, saying it was responding to heavy rocket fire from the densely populated territory. The military says it has launched more than 1,300 airstrikes since then, while Palestinian militants have launched nearly 1,000 rockets at Israel.
The outbreak of violence followed the kidnappings and killings of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank last month, as well as the subsequent kidnapping and killing of a Palestinian teenager in an apparent revenge attack, along with Israeli raids against Hamas militants and infrastructure in the West Bank.
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza has said that 172 people died in Israeli air attacks, including dozens of civilians. That's without counting Monday's fatalities.
There have been no Israeli deaths as a result of Hamas rocket launches, though several people have been wounded, including a teenage boy who was seriously injured by rocket shrapnel on Sunday.
AP Wire Services contributed to this story