In pictures: shelling of Gaza neighbourhood ‘a war crime’

Witnesses said the shelling of Shujaieh left bodies strewn in the streets and thousands fleeing for shelter.

The Arab League has denounced the attack as a war crime.

‘What Shujaieh is undergoing today in terms of brutal bombing operations are war crimes against Palestinian civilians and a dangerous escalation that could have further consequences,’ said Arab League chief Nabil Al Arabi.

Egypt’s foreign ministry also denounced the escalation of the military operation in Gaza, especially in Shujaieh.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that an operation to destroy a network of tunnels used by militants in Gaza could be over ‘fairly quickly’ but would not be pinned down on specifics.

Nearly 90 Palestinians were killed across Gaza on Sunday as Israel stepped up a major offensive, in the bloodiest single day in the battered enclave in five years.

Sixty of those victims died in the neighbourhood of Shejaiya which lies between Gaza City and the border. Seen here is a Palestinian woman running for cover in the Shujaieh neighbourhood which has seen heavy shelling.

This comes as Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Qatar on July 20, 2014 to discuss a ceasefire with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal for the war raging in Gaza.

Israel says its offensive that began on July 8, and which has killed more than 425 people, is aimed at destroying tunnels used by militants from Hamas and other groups to infiltrate Israeli lines, and stop rocket attacks.

Rob Gurdebeke

Thousands of Palestinians run for their lives in the deadliest assault on the Palestinian enclave in five years. The Arab League on Sunday lashed out at Israel for pounding Gaza’s Shujaieh district, accusing the Jewish state of “war crimes” and calling for an “immediate stop” to its offensive. All photos by Heidi Levine for The National

Updated: July 20, 2014, 12:00 AM