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2 Gaza Ceasefire Talks in Egypt, While Mass Killings Continue and Invasion is Pending
19 November 2012
Talks between Israeli representatives and Hamas leaders are taking place with Egyptian mediation in Cairo, aimed at a ceasefire in the continuing mass bombing in Gaza and continued rocket attacks into Israel. It appears that only one of the hundreds of rockets coming into Israel hit a target, killing three civilians, while the casualties in Gaza are over 400, with dozens of women and children among the 57 killed as of Sunday afternoon. The Israeli military widened its range of targets Sunday to include the homes of Hamas leaders and two buildings used by both Hamas and foreign news services. At least eight journalists were injured. Bombs struck more than a dozen homes of Hamas militants and two media officials. "The Israeli military is prepared to significantly expand the operation," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, while video of dozens of Israeli tanks lined up on the border fill the airwaves. Israel conducted more than 180 airstrikes early Saturday, the military said, including the prime minister’s headquarters, a police compound and a vast network of smuggling tunnels. Nabil Shaath, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, was in Cairo, and confirmed that an Israeli envoy had arrived in Egypt for talks, saying there are "serious attempts to reach a ceasefire." There was no immediate Israeli confirmation. Hamas’ prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, spoke to Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi. He told the Egyptian leader he supports such efforts, provided Hamas receives "guarantees that will prevent any future aggression" by Israel, his office said in a statement. |