GAZA, January 15, 2008 (WAFA)-The death toll mounted to 18 citizens and 50 wounded on the ongoing Israeli offensive on Tuesday on al-Zaytoun and al-Shujaiya neighbourhoods, east Gaza City, medical sources said.

They added that Israeli tanks targeted a group of citizens who rushed to the scene to provide aid to the wounded, killing tens of citizens and wounded fifty others, some seriously.

Witnesses said that Israeli warplane bombarded a civil car near Martyrs juncture, south Gaza Strip resulted in killing one citizen and wounding others.

Residents of the area said that Israeli tanks shelled citizens' houses while helicopters are hovering over the area. Many causalities were affected the scene and the paramedics faced difficulties to evacuate the wounded.