GAZA // Israel kept up both its aerial and artillery fire in the Gaza Strip yesterday, as the Palestinian death toll topped 1,000 and pressure for a ceasefire intensified. Israeli politicians continue to demand that Hamas be prevented from rearming under any ceasefire agreement, but divisions within the Israeli leadership over whether to continue the military offensive appear to be deepening. While Ehud Olmert, the prime minister, is understood to want to press on with the offensive, both Ehud Barak, the defence minister, and Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister, are reported to favour an immediate ceasefire. Ms Livni wants to declare a unilateral ceasefire without waiting for Egyptian-mediated negotiations with Hamas, while Mr Barak wants to hold fire but keep Israeli troops in place for a week-long "humanitarian ceasefire" to allow Egyptian mediation efforts to run their course. Yossi Alpher, an Israeli analyst and a former adviser to Mr Barak when the latter was prime minister, said reports of the disagreements seemed credible, but wondered whether they were very important. "The fact is: Israel is continuing its military operation and is waiting for something to come out of ceasefire negotiations." Those negotiations are ongoing, with Hamas due last night to give its answer to an Egyptian proposal that is believed to call for an immediate 10-day ceasefire, for humanitarian purposes, followed by a long-term ceasefire agreement that would address the issues of the Gaza crossings, arms smuggling and rocket fire. Hamas is reported to be willing to consider a six- to 12-month ceasefire, if accompanied by an immediate Israeli withdrawal and the opening of crossings into Gaza. Senior Israeli defence officials are also believed to be leaning towards ending the offensive sooner and before Barack Obama, the US president-elect, takes office next week, according to reports in the Israeli media. Israel's army brass believe it has achieved all it can achieve in Gaza without a "third phase" operation that would see Israeli troops push deep into densely populated Gazan towns and cities and for which there is no consensus among army generals. That contrasts with last week, when military leaders were bullish about the prospects of striking a fatal blow to Hamas. In the intervening week, Palestinian fighters and Israeli troops have engaged directly in the crowded environs of different Gazan towns and cities. Yesterday, at least 14 Israeli soldiers were wounded in different incidents across the Gaza Strip. Some 14 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel, while three rockets were fired from across the Lebanese border for the second time in a week. The Lebanese government condemned the incident and no group claimed responsibility. On the ground in Gaza, there is little sign of a let-up in the violence, with residents reporting another night of heavy fighting and aerial bombardment. As of 5.30pm yesterday, Israeli artillery fire was also heard booming over Gaza City. At least 17 houses were destroyed in an air strike in a neighbourhood of Gaza City. According to the Israeli military, its aircraft bombed at least 60 targets across the Gaza Strip, including dropping bunker busters at suspected tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border. Off the Gaza coast, Israel said, it had turned away an Iranian vessel headed for Gaza with 200 tonnes of medicine and food. The vessel was later also turned away from the Sinai port of El Arish by the Egyptian navy. According to the Palestinian ministry of health, 1,010 Palestinian have now died in the 18-day conflict and more than 4,500 are wounded. Medical facilities are working under incredible strain, with the intensive care unit at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City "overwhelmed", according to a report by the World Health Organization. The WHO estimated that Gazan hospitals were running with only eight to 12 hours electricity a day and relied on fuel-powered generators to ensure power for the remaining hours. More than 35,000 Gazans have been displaced as a result of the Israeli offensive, according to the organisation. The high number of dead, meanwhile, coupled with the severing of Gaza into several parts as a result of Israeli troop positions, has thrown up a new problem in Gaza. Cemeteries are full, and those graveyards with space are inaccessible by locals. In Gaza City yesterday, Samir Mughrabi, 45, had decorated his lorry with palm leaves to take his nephew, who had been killed in an air strike overnight, to the nearby Al Ahli cemetery. Mr Mughrabi, a lorry driver by trade, said he would bury his nephew with relatives and that he had already buried another nephew in the same grave as his father because there was no space in the cemetery and other graveyards were out of reach. "It has come to this now for us. We are not even allowed to honour our dead." Another man, Abu Khalid, 49, said he too had been forced to bury his son, Khalid Salem, in the grave of relatives. "There is still space in the main cemetery in Beit Lahiya, but it is located in a very dangerous area and we can't reach it. It's the same for us all: wherever you can bury the dead, you do so. Find a cemetery in a safe place and then find an old grave. There is no dignity." Residents said Israeli aircraft had bombed Gaza City's main cemetery, the Sheikh Radwan cemetery yesterday, destroying tombs and exposing dozens of bodies. Sheikh Radwan is one of the few cemeteries with space for new graves, but people are now staying away from the burial site, fearful of future attacks.
okarmi@thenational.ae
Omar Karmi reported from Ramallah; Safwat Kahlout is in Gaza City.
