Trails of smoke are seen after the launch of rockets from the central Gaza Strip towards Israel January 6, 2009. (Gil Cohen Magen/Reuters)From Yahoo News/Reuters:
GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli aircraft and tanks pounded the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and troops battled Palestinian guerrillas on the ground as U.S. backing for a proposed truce raised expectations of an end to the 12-day-old offensive.
"We believe a ceasefire is necessary," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, adding that she was pressing Israel to move forward with an Egyptian proposal backed by Europeans.
Israel's assault resumed fiercely after a first, brief pause to help Gaza's 1.5 million people stock up on supplies.
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