DESPITE MOUNTING criticism over the growing number of civilian casualties and intensive diplomacy to end the violence, Israeli forces yesterday continued the war against Hamas in Gaza without let-up.
The most intense clashes to date erupted last night on the outskirts of Gaza City, in the areas of Beit Lahiya and Jebaliya, with massive Israeli artillery fire directed against Hamas fighters. Troops took control of high-rise buildings as clashes continued in a number of locations, particularly around Gaza City.
Israeli aircraft again bombed the area of smuggling tunnels along the Gaza-Egypt border. Two mosques, where Israel claimed militants stored weapons, were also hit.
Fourteen children were killed, bringing to 80 the number of people killed since the ground incursion started on Saturday night.
The overall Palestinian death toll rose to more than 540, with some 2,000 people wounded.
Five Israelis - two soldiers and three civilians - have been killed.
Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak said that while Hamas had suffered great losses under Israel's air, sea and ground offensive, many of the military's goals had yet to be achieved.
"Hamas has so far sustained a very heavy blow from us, but we have yet to achieve our objective, and therefore the operation continues," Mr Barak said.
Despite the military onslaught, Palestinian gunmen yesterday again hit targets throughout southern Israel, firing some 30 rockets.
A flurry of diplomatic meetings took place as international efforts went into high gear in an effort to bring about a new truce.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who had proposed a 48-hour ceasefire before Israel's ground offensive, held talks with Israeli and Palestinian Authority leaders. He told Israeli leaders that the violence must end, calling for a new truce as soon as possible. He also condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel.
Also in the region was a European delegation, comprising the foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, France and Sweden, and senior EU officials. Czech foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg said the EU did not support the Israeli position that all Israel's war aims must be achieved before the fighting ended.
In Washington, the state department said the US was seeking a ceasefire that would bring an end to Hamas rocket attacks on Israel, open crossings in and out of the Gaza and address the issue of tunnels used for smuggling. Such a ceasefire would not have a time limit, unlike the previous six-month truce that ended in mid-December, a spokesman said.