Israel shows no mercy to the Palestinians
The initiation of a ground assault coupled with an expanding air attack raised concerns about further civilian atrocities. The fears turned into a grim reality as Israel stepped up its military campaign on Monday against Hamas rulers on the Gaza strip contributing to an ever increasing civilian death toll. 
Diplomats from around the world along with European leaders are desperately seeking ways to establish a cease fire in the region. Israel has however shown no signs of backing down even after the 10 day crippling assault on the Gaza strip. Israel refuses to accept any cease fire proposals until Hamas rocket firing on southern Israeli towns are not restricted.
Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Avi Benayahu said speaking to Israeli TV that the ground phase of the operation that commenced on Saturday was going according to plan. He said that the Israeli forces were moving in towards the rocket launching sites causing severe blows to the militants.
Gaza strip’s largest hospital named Shifa hospital said that it received no militant casualties on Monday. Rather the hospital was inundated with civilian casualties. The dead bodies were so many in number that two dead bodies were being made to fit in a single morgue drawer. With the hospital beds being fully occupied the wounded were being treated in the hall ways.
The ten day operation from the Israeli forces has left over 550 Palestinians dead and over 2500 wounded. 200 of the total Palestinians killed in the operation were civilians. According to the U.N officials 25% of the total population killed in the Israeli raid have been civilians.
More than 20 Palestinian lost their lives in the Israeli offensive on Monday. Most of the deaths confirmed have been of civilians. In one attack three brothers were killed in their home outside the Gaza city.
In contrast Israel has lost only five of its people with one of them being a soldier. Amongst the brothers killed in Monday’s attack the youngest was only three years of age.
A fierce battle took place between Hamas militants and Israel soldiers outside the Shajaiyeh neighborhood. The ground operation enabled Israeli soldiers to take control over three six story buildings in the outskirts.
The Israeli air force and ground soldiers have shown no mercy to the Palestinians. They have not only attacked weapon storage sites and smuggling tunnels but also houses and mosques.