THE WORLD FROM BERLIN
'Hamas Has Not Been Weakened'
With Israel's offensive against Hamas about to enter its second week, there is little sign of the violence letting up. German commentators call on the international community to act and say that Turkey could make the perfect mediator between the two sides.
On the seventh day of Israel's offensive against the militant Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the violence showed no sign of letting up.
Israeli airstrikes Friday hit around 20 houses believed to belong to militants from Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and other groups, the Associated Press reported quoting Palestinian sources. The Israeli military warned residents by telephone ahead of the attacks or fired warning missiles in a bid to minimize civilian casualties. Israel insists it is only attacking sites that are directly linked to Hamas.
Friday's attacks came a day after senior Hamas leader Nizar Rayan and his family were killed in an Israeli air strike. Hamas swore it would take revenge for the assassination of Rayan, the senior-most Hamas leader to be killed in the operation so far.
Israel also opened a border crossing with the Gaza Strip Friday, allowing at least 100 holders of foreign passports -- mainly spouses of Palestinians and their children -- to escape the fighting.
Protests against the ongoing Israeli offensive have been widespread, and Friday saw street protests across the West Bank. In Ramallah, Hamas supporters clashed with supporters of the moderate Palestinian movement Fatah. Also on Friday, Hamas called on all Palestinians to observe a "day of wrath" in protest against Israel's actions.
The Israeli operation began last Saturday in a bid to stop rockets being fired at southern Israel by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. However rocket fire is still continuing despite the Israeli raids. Israeli soldiers are massed on the border with the Gaza Strip and a ground offensive may still be in the offing.
Over 400 people have died since the Israeli operation began. Of those, at least 100 were civilians, according to the United Nations. Four Israelis have been killed by rocket fire in the past week. Both sides have so far rebuffed calls for a cease-fire.
Commentators writing in Germany's main newspapers Friday seemed pessimistic about the chances of peace and called on the international community to intervene.
'Hamas Has Not Been Weakened'
With Israel's offensive against Hamas about to enter its second week, there is little sign of the violence letting up. German commentators call on the international community to act and say that Turkey could make the perfect mediator between the two sides.
On the seventh day of Israel's offensive against the militant Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the violence showed no sign of letting up.
Israeli airstrikes Friday hit around 20 houses believed to belong to militants from Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and other groups, the Associated Press reported quoting Palestinian sources. The Israeli military warned residents by telephone ahead of the attacks or fired warning missiles in a bid to minimize civilian casualties. Israel insists it is only attacking sites that are directly linked to Hamas.
Friday's attacks came a day after senior Hamas leader Nizar Rayan and his family were killed in an Israeli air strike. Hamas swore it would take revenge for the assassination of Rayan, the senior-most Hamas leader to be killed in the operation so far.
Israel also opened a border crossing with the Gaza Strip Friday, allowing at least 100 holders of foreign passports -- mainly spouses of Palestinians and their children -- to escape the fighting.
Protests against the ongoing Israeli offensive have been widespread, and Friday saw street protests across the West Bank. In Ramallah, Hamas supporters clashed with supporters of the moderate Palestinian movement Fatah. Also on Friday, Hamas called on all Palestinians to observe a "day of wrath" in protest against Israel's actions.
The Israeli operation began last Saturday in a bid to stop rockets being fired at southern Israel by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. However rocket fire is still continuing despite the Israeli raids. Israeli soldiers are massed on the border with the Gaza Strip and a ground offensive may still be in the offing.
Over 400 people have died since the Israeli operation began. Of those, at least 100 were civilians, according to the United Nations. Four Israelis have been killed by rocket fire in the past week. Both sides have so far rebuffed calls for a cease-fire.
Commentators writing in Germany's main newspapers Friday seemed pessimistic about the chances of peace and called on the international community to intervene.
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