World

Israeli Troops Near Gaza Border, violence goes into sixth day

by Sanjay Jha | January 1, 2009 at 01:39 am

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Rejecting widespread calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Israeli warplanes attacked government buildings in the Gaza Strip on New Year's Day. Even Islamist Hamas has turned down ceasefire calls in a conflict that has killed about 400 Palestinians.

BBC is reporting that violence is continuing for a sixth day in the Gaza Strip even after calls for a UN-backed ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants foundered.

Israeli air strikes targeted the parliament building and the justice ministry. There are also reports of damage to a children's hospital.

Israel is sending more troops to the Gaza border, as its deadly air offensive against the Hamas militant group enters its sixth day.

Soldiers and tanks moved toward the front-line in the rain Thursday, as Israeli officials discussed the possibility of a ground offensive into the Palestinian territory.

Nearly 400 Palestinians have died since Israeli warplanes began bombing suspected Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip lastSaturday. The air strikes continued Thursday, hitting several Hamas government buildings, including the parliament.

Hamas also is hitting southern Israeli cities with rockets. Four Israelis have died since Saturday.

World leaders are calling for an end to the violence, but the United Nations Security Council rejected an Arab request Wednesday for a legally binding resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.