Israeli troops move into suburbs of Gaza City (Baltimore Sun)

[EFerrari]

Israeli troops move into suburbs of Gaza City
Conflict could be at crossroads: escalation or negotiation

By Sebastian Rotella and Rushdi abu Alouf | Los Angeles Times
January 13, 2009

JERUSALEM - Israeli troops stepped up attacks on Hamas fighters in the outskirts of Gaza City yesterday, as the death toll of Palestinians in recent fighting surpassed 900 and Hamas militants fired a new volley of rockets into southern Israel.

On the 17th day since Israel launched its incursion into the Gaza Strip, the conflict appeared to be reaching a crucial threshold that could result in escalated combat or a negotiated resolution.

In a televised statement from a hide-out presumed to be in Gaza, a top leader of the battered Hamas regime mixed defiance with language suggesting openness to diplomacy. Ismail Haniyeh, who was prime minister under a previous Palestinian unity government, looked tired and cited Quranic verses and prayers during the speech aired by Hamas-run TV, his second since the conflict began.

"We deal positively with any initiative that can end the aggression and allow the withdrawal of the occupation troops and end the siege so that we can stop the bloodshed," Haniyeh said.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-te.gaza13jan13,0,4295462.story?track=rss