New Strikes Push Gaza Toll to 275

Israel vows 'great force' in response

(NEWSER) - A long-range rocket fired today from Gaza struck the Israeli city of Ashkelon in the first such attack since the ceasefire began last month, reports CNN. No injuries were reported, but Israel vowed to respond with "great force." Resumed rocket fire from Gaza presents a particular problem for the centrist-led Israeli government before next week's elections. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has threatened "disproportionate" retaliation for Gaza violence. More»

Evacuation of spouses raises fears of imminent ground assault

(NEWSER) - Israel has reopened a border crossing to let foreign passport holders flee Gaza, the New York Times reports. Hundreds of men holding only Palestinian travel documents have been forced to remain behind as their wives and children are evacuated. The move raises fears that a wider Israeli assault on the territory, possibly including a ground invasion, is imminent. More»

World waiting to see how former rivals react to latest crisis

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton criticized Barack Obama’s world affairs know-how in the primaries, but now the two are poised to join forces on their first foreign policy test, Tony Allen-Mills writes in the Times of London. Israel’s air offensive in Gaza undid months of negotiations to kick-start a peace process, forcing Obama to start from square one—and Clinton to likely pick up negotiations where her husband left off. More»

Party shares blame with Israel for sky-high unemployment

(NEWSER) - As joblessness mounts in the beleaguered Gaza Strip, more and more residents are blaming the ruling Hamas party for their woes, GlobalPost reports. Although Gaza has one of the fastest population growth rates on earth, 45% of people have no job and 85% depend on aid to get by. And while Palestinians largely blame Israel’s stifling economic blockade, they are increasingly turning their ire on Hamas, too. More»

(NEWSER) - Explosives-laden horses were part of an attempt today by Palestinian militants to plant bombs in Israel, the BBC reports. Israel says it shot and killed four men—who where wearing explosive vests—and their explosive-laden horses after they first fired on a border post. The Israeli response to the men and their horses was carried out with machine guns, tanks, and helicopters. More»