18 martyrs in Gaza since 2012 truce

Hamas Minister of Religious Affairs Ismail Radwan strongly denounced the Israeli bombing of Rafah area in Gaza a few days ago, which caused considerable damage to Al-Ferdaws Mosque.

In a press release, Radwan stated that Israel's targeting of mosques is a serious violation of the international law which stipulates the need to respect the holy sites of all nations.

He stressed that Israel, which commits daily crimes against the Palestinians and their property, is no stranger to such act.

The minister called on the Arab and Muslim nations, and the world's free people to urgently move to defend the holy sites in Palestine and assume their role in protecting the Palestinian people against Israel's aggression.

In another context, the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said six Palestinians were killed and 41 others suffered injuries during Israeli shooting incidents and aerial attacks last January.

Last January is considered the deadliest month since Egypt brokered a truce deal between the Palestinian resistance in Gaza and the Israeli occupation.

Since the truce took effect on November 21, 2012, the Israeli army has killed 18 Gazans, and kidnapped and wounded many others, including 60 fishermen.