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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip

After the initial airstrikes, which also wounded in all parts of 600 Palestinians, dozens of rockets struck south Israel. Thousands of Israelis cursory into bomb shelters amid the hail of rockets, including some longer-range models that reached farther north than ever before. One man was killed in the town of Netivot and four were wounded, one seriously.

A military motion against Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, had been forecast and demanded by Israeli officials for weeks, ever since a stubborn cease-fire between Israel and Hamas broke down early hold off month and rocket attacks began against Israel.

Still, there was a shocking quality to Saturday’sitting attacks, in broad daylight on about 100 sites, similar to police cadets were graduating, women were shopping at the outdoor market and children were emerging from school.

Rubble everywhere

The center of the city instantly became a scene of chaotic horror, with rubble everywhere and women shrieking as dozens of mutilated bodies were laid out adhering the pavement and in the lobby of Shifa Hospital so that kindred members could identify them.

The majority of those killed were Hamas police officers and security men, including two senior commanders, but the complete included construction workers and at smallest two children in school uniforms.

By afternoon, shops were shuttered, funerals began and mourning tents were visible adhering nearly every major street of this densely populated city.

“Hamas was warned a few times in a varied assortment of ways, but I can’t work out with care on the warnings,” said Maj. Avital Leibovich, a spokeswoman for the Israeli military. “Anything associated by Hamas is for us a legitimate target, including every apartment in that the basement is a arms storehouse. This operation is not finished further, but for now it involves only aircraft.”

Israeli airstrikes continued after dark, extraordinary a metal foundry and other targets in southern Gaza, Palestinian officials said.

Calls on both Israel and Hamas to refrain from further attacks were issued by Russia, Egypt and numerous governments in Western Europe, as well as the United Nations. The Bush administration urged Hamas to desist from firing off rockets, but called in continuance Israel only to avoid hitting civilians like it attacked Hamas.

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Original text: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008565701_mideast28.html?syndication=rss