• What’s going on in Gaza…Same as usual just more intense.

Israel expanded its most lethal air offensive to date (some 300 air strikes since midday Saturday) against Gaza’s Hamas leaders yesterday. The successful attacks dolled out more damage than ever before, making rubble out of parts of the city. They are amassing what appears to be a large ground force attack as well

Israeli said it would press on its Gaza operation, despite what the rest of the middle east thinks. Israel’s foreign minister said the goal was to halt Gaza rocket fire on Israel for good, but not to reoccupy the territory. People are fleeing to Egypt, over 300 people died, and 800 wounded, over the weekend. Most of the dead were Hamas security forces.

As a response Hamas fired rockets farther into Israel. Almost all the way to the Israeli port city of Ashdod. Hamas leaders were still forced into hiding. Israel’s military intelligence chief said Hamas’ ability to fire rockets had been reduced by 50%. (Hamas rockets fire dropped off sharply, from more than 130 on Saturday to just over 20 on Sunday)

“Since Hamas took over Gaza (in June 2007), it has become a war between two states, and in war between states, more force is used,”
-Shlomo Brom

Known Colatoral Damage:
1. Jebaliya refugee camp next to Gaza City, killing a 14-month-old baby, a man and two women.
2. the Islamic University and government compound in Gaza City.
3. the house next to the residence of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in a Gaza City refugee camp (Haniyeh was in hiding and not at home).
4. dozens of smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border (a lifeline that had supplied Hamas weapons & Gaza commercial goods
5. Hamas’ main security compounds in Gaza City, including a prison

Syria decided to suspend indirect peace talks with Israel. U.N. Security Council called on both sides to halt the fighting. Despite European leaders calling on both Israel and Hamas to end the bloodshed, there appears to be no end in site.

“the provocations that led to this situation as well as the disproportionate use of force.”
–French President Nicolas Sarkozy

“liable to last longer than we are able to foresee at this time.”
-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert

The White House had little to say about the situation in Gaza on Sunday after blaming Hamas for provoking Israel’s retaliatory strikes, the day before.