An explosion and smoke are seen during Israel's offensive in the northern Gaza Strip January 15, 2009. (Yannis Behrakis/Reuters)From McClatchy Newspapers:
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Israeli military punched deeper into Gaza City on Thursday with a series of strikes that hit the United Nations' headquarters, a major hospital and the offices of international media groups.
As Israeli leaders weighed an evolving Egyptian initiative that's considered the best hope for ending the 20-day-old conflict, Israeli forces delivered another blow to the Hamas-led Gaza Strip.
For the first time in the offensive, Israel killed a top Hamas political leader in the Gaza Strip. Late Thursday, an Israeli air strike hit Said Siam, who served as interior minister after Hamas won control of the territory in democratic elections in 2006.
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