Israel rejects 48-hour ceasefire plan for Gaza as Hamas widens its rocket attacks

[Legal Beagles]

Israel leaders rejected a 48-hour ceasefire in its bombardment of Gaza today and decided to keep battering Hamas by air. In turn, Hamas widened its rocket attacks to Beersheba, 24 miles from the Strip.

More...

[enaid]

Re: Israel rejects 48-hour ceasefire plan for Gaza as Hamas widens its rocket attacks

Ah well, we will give you this to help you out,that may sound bitter, but will it actually achieve anything?

£7m UK aid amid call for Gaza truce

Britain is putting 10 million dollars (£7m) towards emergency humanitarian aid in the crisis-stricken Gaza Strip, it has been announced.

International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said the money would help provide urgently-needed food and fuel to the Palestinian territory, shattered by four days of Israeli air strikes.
The assistance comes amid continued international pressure, supported by the UK, for a ceasefire in Gaza, where hundreds of people have been killed.
The Israeli security cabinet is due to meet on Wednesday to discuss their next moves.
There are reports that it will consider appeals for a truce, at least temporarily to allow the distribution of humanitarian aid. But Israeli ministers also say they are determined to put an end to rocket attacks from militants in Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Mr Alexander said on Wednesday: "Aid is desperately needed in Gaza. The human cost of this conflict is unacceptable and the humanitarian situation is getting worse by the hour.
"Thousands are suffering. Medical items are in short supply. Fuel shortages have led to power cuts which in turn are affecting hospitals and other essential services. And UN stocks of food are very low.
"The limited aid that is getting through cannot be distributed properly because of bombing from the air and rocket attacks launched from inside Gaza.
"The fighting must stop to enable humanitarian agencies to help people in desperate need. The Government remains gravely concerned by the conflict and we renew our appeal to all parties to end the violence immediately."
Israel is said to be considering a 48-hour halt to its air campaign against Hamas targets in Gaza in the hope that Palestinian militants will stop their rocket attacks. Any offer would apparently be coupled with a threat to send in ground troops if the rocket fire continues, with preparations for such a move continuing