Civilians take brunt of 7th day of Gaza offensive (Fri Jan 2, 2009 3:05pm EST)

[Adsos Letter]

Source: Reuters

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - The civilian death toll climbed in Israel's air offensive against the Gaza Strip on Friday and Palestinian Islamists vowed revenge for the killing of a senior Hamas leader and his family.

There was no sign of a ceasefire on the seventh day of the conflict, in which at least 425 Palestinians have been killed and 2,000 wounded, but a Palestinian official told Reuters that Egypt had begun exploratory talks with Hamas to halt the bloodshed.

The senior Palestinian official, who declined to be named and who has been close to previous talks between Egypt and Hamas, said the aim of the talks included promoting ideas that would culminate in a new truce.

Four Israeli civilians have been killed by Palestinian rockets fired from Gaza, which strike southern cities and towns at random and cause property damage and panic among the local population.

A United Nations agency said the civilian death toll in Gaza was over 25 percent of the total killed in the violence. A leading Palestinian human rights group put it at 40 percent.

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSLS69391620090102?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

[thunder rising]

1. 4 Israeli vs 435 Palistinian deaths ... This is a slaughter. I'll bet more Israelis died by car

accident.

[Adsos Letter]

2. I have edited my post to reflect that disparity.

I note that Reuters, in this instance, is presenting Palestinian casualties in terms of percentages, not numbers. A small, but perhaps telling, detail.

[Idealism]

3. Out of the 2,000 wounded, how many are civilians?

Thats what you won't hear.

[Adsos Letter]

5. Indeed.

And "wounds" can ruin a life as well.

I am sick and tired of people hurting each other in this world.

[Idealism]

6. Especially when the hospitals have no supplies or power

And when the water supply gets cut
Or when there isn't any food to be had.

[sixmile]

4. Clearly there are no civilians

They are all Hamas disguised as civilians.
Would somebody please tell me how to spot a Hamas? I've never gotten a clear answer.