01/07/09

* 3-hr truce ends, Gaza battles resume Gunfire was heard over Gaza on Wednesday afternoon as battles between the IDF and Hamas operatives resumed following the end of a three-hour humanitarian truce.

* Witnesses: Hamas fired from school Two residents of the area near UN school that was shelled by the IDF said that they had seen a small group of terrorists firing mortar rounds from a street close to the school.

* Hamas has nothing left but rockets Defense officials estimate Hamas infrastructure sustained serious hit, but organization is rationing its rocket caches in order not to deplete them too soon.

* Hamas executes 6 suspected collaborators Palestinian group puts to death six men suspected of delivering information to IDF, guiding IAF warplanes

* Hamas Uses Israel's Warnings to Prepare Human Shields Israel's notifications to civilians in Gaza to leave populated locations before they are bombed are cynically used by Hamas for organizing human shields.

* Cabinet gives IDF green light to proceed with battle plans Just hours after Jerusalem signaled it might give Franco-Egyptian diplomacy a chance, the Security Cabinet gave the IDF the green light to continue Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.

* Hamas says no to permanent ceasefire Despite mounting international pressure for an end to hostilities between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, Hamas declared it would not accept any permanent cease-fire with Israel.

* Why has the West Bank been quiet? Demonstrations in the West Bank over the past 11 days have attracted small numbers of Palestinians.

* Israel accepts truce 'principles' Israel has agreed "on the principles" of a ceasefire proposal, raising hopes of an end to its conflict with Palestinian militants in Gaza.

* Hamas suicide bombers can reach Israel Twelve days into Operation Cast Lead and assessments in the defense establishment are that Hamas is still capable of launching a "quality" terror attack against Israel.