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Israelis Drive to Heart of Gaza City

Death tolls edges to 900 in 16-day offensive.

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 11, 2009 6:19 AM CST

(Newser) – Israeli forces pushed toward the heart of Gaza City today in continued defiance of a UN call for a ceasefire and killing close to 30  Palestinians, Reuters reports. Nearly 900 people have been killed in the 16-day offensive. Israeli forces and tanks backed by helicopter gunships battled Hamas militants as they pushed into eastern and southern sections of the city.

In broadcast remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave no timetable for the Gaza offensive, saying only that Israel "must not miss out" on a chance to "change the security situation. Hamas has refused to lay down arms until Israel ends its assault. Hamas representatives were holding talks in Cairo on an Egypt truce plan.

A Palestinian relative of Hamas militant Ahmad El Shaer, who was killed in an Israeli missile strike, weeps during his funeral  in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, today.
A Palestinian relative of Hamas militant Ahmad El Shaer, who was killed in an Israeli missile strike, weeps during his funeral in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, today.   (AP Photo/Khaled Omar)
Palestinians carry the body of a man killed in an Israeli strike to a Gaza City hospital today as the streets are ripped by gunfire.
Palestinians carry the body of a man killed in an Israeli strike to a Gaza City hospital today as the streets are ripped by gunfire.   (AP Photo/AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Palestinians walk by the rubble of a mosque and Islamic school after it was destroyed in an Israeli missile strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip today.
Palestinians walk by the rubble of a mosque and Islamic school after it was destroyed in an Israeli missile strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip today.   (AP Photo/Khaled Omar)
A mosque and Islamic school lie in ruins after an Israeli missile strike in Rafah today.
A mosque and Islamic school lie in ruins after an Israeli missile strike in Rafah today.   (AP Photo/Khaled Omar)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Guest
Jan 11, 2009 7:40 PM CST
Hanmas rejected the ceasefire. who is going to condemn them? All who supported nazis holocaust now are condemning Israelis ( jews)

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