Gaza residents donate blood as tensions escalate

Gaza residents responded to a call to donate blood in anticipation of further Israeli attacks following three days of intensive airstrikes on the coastal enclave, hospital officials said Sunday. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in southern Gaza appealed for blood donations as Israeli ministers urged the cabinet to launch an extensive military campaign on the coastal enclave. Head of the blood unit at the hospital Dr Dia Miqdad said the hospital was already suffering from a shortage of blood due to the high number of injuries in the last 48 hours. Israeli forces have killed 14 Palestinians and wounded dozens more in a series of airstrikes since Thursday as Tel Aviv blamed militants in Gaza for an attack near Eilat which left eight Israelis dead. Violence in and around Gaza entered its fourth day on Sunday as militants fired over 20 rockets into Israel and the air force hit targets near Gaza City, a day after a rocket killed an Israeli.