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Gaza Death Toll Hits 400

Palestinian parliament building gutted as UN warns of humanitarian crisis

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 1, 2009 6:50 AM CST

(Newser) – The Gaza death toll passed 400 as Israeli airstrikes continued for a sixth day on the start of the New Year and gutted the Palestinian parliament building, CNN reports. The dead include 42 children, 13 women and two medical workers. Some 2,000 others are injured, hundeds of them critically. Israel has rejected calls for a truce and vowed to continue the assault until a "real and sustainable" solution is found to stop Palestinian attacks on Israel.

UN officials warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza was on the verge of catastrophe. "This is a very bloody operation, by anybody's standards, even by the standards of that part of the world," said the UN's emergency relief coordinator. Israel has massed troops on the Gaza border and a ground assault is widely expected.

Palestinians carry the body of Ismail Hamdan, 10, during his funeral in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip today. Hamdan  died of injuries received from an Israeli airstrike.
Palestinians carry the body of Ismail Hamdan, 10, during his funeral in Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip today. Hamdan died of injuries received from an Israeli airstrike.   (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
Palestinians check the damage of their destroyed houses after an Israeli missile strike in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, today.
Palestinians check the damage of their destroyed houses after an Israeli missile strike in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, today.   (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Palestinians check the damage of their destroyed houses after an Israeli missile strike at Rafah refugee camp today.
Palestinians check the damage of their destroyed houses after an Israeli missile strike at Rafah refugee camp today.   (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
An Israeli soldier arrives at a staging area along the Israel-Gaza Border today.
An Israeli soldier arrives at a staging area along the Israel-Gaza Border today.   (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
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