Israel tightens grip on urban parts of Gaza
source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090113/ts_nm/us_palestinians_israel
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GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli troops tightened their grip on urban areas in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday on the 18th day of an offensive against Hamas guerrillas, while world leaders struggled to coax the sides to a ceasefire.
The Palestinian death toll passed 900, including many civilians, as Israeli tanks moved to the edges of the city of Gaza and troops backed by air and naval strikes fought intense battles with Hamas militants.
Israeli leaders met to decide on further steps, Israeli media said, as Hamas's leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said defiantly in a televised broadcast that "victory is at hand."
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon headed to the region to further press for a truce in a week of talks with leaders in Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Syria.
"My message is simple, direct, and to the point: the fighting must stop. To both sides, I say: Just stop now," Ban told reporters before his departure.
Lebanese political sources close to the Islamist group said Gaza's Hamas rulers would reject Egypt's proposals to end the offensive Israel said it launched to stop rocket fire from Gaza that causes few casualties but disrupts life in southern Israel.
Hamas's main objections were to a proposed long-term truce and to any ceasefire being put in place before Israel withdrew all its forces from Gaza, one of the sources said.
Israel has rejected a United Nations Security Council call for a truce but said it was ready to discuss further proposals.
The Palestinian death toll passed 900, including many civilians, as Israeli tanks moved to the edges of the city of Gaza and troops backed by air and naval strikes fought intense battles with Hamas militants.
Israeli leaders met to decide on further steps, Israeli media said, as Hamas's leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, said defiantly in a televised broadcast that "victory is at hand."
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon headed to the region to further press for a truce in a week of talks with leaders in Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Syria.
"My message is simple, direct, and to the point: the fighting must stop. To both sides, I say: Just stop now," Ban told reporters before his departure.
Lebanese political sources close to the Islamist group said Gaza's Hamas rulers would reject Egypt's proposals to end the offensive Israel said it launched to stop rocket fire from Gaza that causes few casualties but disrupts life in southern Israel.
Hamas's main objections were to a proposed long-term truce and to any ceasefire being put in place before Israel withdrew all its forces from Gaza, one of the sources said.
Israel has rejected a United Nations Security Council call for a truce but said it was ready to discuss further proposals.
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gaiusfurius
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On average less than 50 people a day have died, and this includes all hamas have killed for their photo ops.Not exactly up to Genocide levels yet. Truth is....they are being so careful not kill innocents that this war is costing more than it is worth. Israel has to pick up the pace of seeking out Hamas and dispatching them.
- 3 years ago
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gaiusfurius
