Israel and Hamas attempt to strike maximum damage before cease fire

Wednesday saw another episode of ongoing attacks by Israel on the Gaza strip. Israel had suspended its military operation in certain areas for three hours in order to let some humanitarian aid through. Following which it resumed its attacks on suspected smuggling tunnels and rocket launching sides. In response to Wednesday’s attacks Hamas shot back a barrage of rockets. 

There has been a slight progress in the diplomatic efforts that were being made by international forces regarding brokering a cease fire in the region. The U.S finally decided to back up a cease fire proposal made by Egypt and France.

Despite holding several meetings the U.N Security Council has not been able to come to common terms regarding a cease fire solution. On a separate plane the U.N Ambassador of Egypt Maged Abdelaziz said that representatives of Israel, Hamas along with Palestinian Authority will be conducting a meeting with Egyptian officials in the city of Cairo on Thursday.

Israel war planes dropped leaflets warning civilians to leave the area “because Hamas uses your houses to hide and smuggle military weapons.” This was followed up by air strikes that left 29 people dead in the region.

It has now been 12 days since the brutal Israeli onslaught has been going on in Gaza and the death toll has risen to almost 700 Palestinians and ten Israelis. Over five thousand people have fled their homes in the border areas in order to take refuge in two U.N schools that have been transformed into shelters. 

The fighting that took place on Wednesday brought to light the attempts of both the sides to strike as much to the opposition before a truce is brokered in. 

A resident of the Gaza-Egypt border Fida Kishta says “I feel like the ground is shaking when we hear the shelling. People are terrified,” Sixteen empty houses have been destroyed in the region from Israeli air strikes.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said acknowledging the efforts of some of the international forces “We are very much applauding the efforts of a number of states, particularly the effort that President (Hosni) Mubarak has undertaken on behalf of Egypt, we’re supporting that initiative.”
By and large the Israeli army did not allow journalists to make their way into Gaza but on Wednesday it gave permission to two TV teams to accompany the soldiers patrolling through the region. The footage captured some of the damage that has been caused during the twelve day attacks.