Good morning, Netizens...

Reuters reports that more than 155 people have been killed in the Gaza Strait this morning as Israel, responding to rocket attacks on Israeli soil, began bombing the Hamas-controlled region south of Israel. Israeli warplanes and combat helicopters began the attacks on what it termed were "terrorist infrastructure" after previous days of rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Israeli air campaign was "criminal" and called for the international community to intervene.

The air strikes followed a decision by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's security cabinet to take reprisal for cross-border Palestinian rocket attacks following the collapse of a six-month-old, Egyptian-brokered ceasefire a week ago.

Asked if an escalation of the assault could include targeted strikes against Hamas leaders, army spokeswoman Avital Leibovitch said: "Anything belonging to Hamas could be a target. You can interpret that as you like."

While the majority of the world leadership called for an immediate ceasefire, the White House appeared to put the blame on Hamas, stating "Hamas' continued rocket attacks into Israel must cease if the violence is to stop,"

Dave

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