Gaza gov't files complaint to UN over strikes, reports that Israel may be using phosphorous

Ma'an – Spokesman of the Gaza government Taher An-Nunu said Friday that he had sent an official letter of complaint to the UN "and other involved parties" following the death of five civilians in Gaza during the day.

Israeli air and artillery fire hit the coastal enclave ten times during the day. An Israeli military statement acknowledged the deaths, saying it "regrets that the Hamas terrorist organization chooses to operate from within its civilian population, using it as a 'human shield'."

An-Nunu said Israel was taking the opportunity while the world was "preoccupied with other events," in the near and far east, and said that by "carrying out a series of escalations of attacks."

He added, that Israel had shown that Israel had shown that it does "not respect the state of calm on which all factions had agreed on," referring to a proposed ceasefire deal announced by Hamas officials at 11 p.m. on Thursday night.

After a series of overnight air strikes killed four, Hamas fighters resumed launching projectiles, saying in a statement that six projectiles and three mortars had been launched Friday afternoon toward Israeli military targets near Rafah.

"We will not stand silent," he said of the escalation.

Earlier in the day a Hamas official accused Israel of using white phosphorus weapons during the day, a claim that was later denied by an Israeli military spokesman.

White phosphorus weapons were used on civilian areas by Israeli forces during their 2008-9 offensive, Operation Cast Lead. International conventions say the weapons are prohibited for use in civilian areas. In open-area combat, the phosphorus is used to light up targets.

In Gaza, doctors who noted abnormal burns on patients being admitted during the war alerted officials, prompting an investigation.