Gaza toll rises; truce sought

On Thursday January 8, 2009, Israel was getting ready to push into crowded Gazan cities to bomb innocent people's homes. Then, France and Egypt named a temporary truce. They came in and proposed an immediate cease fire for a temporary truce, with further discussions of a long-term truce. The US is encouraging Israeli leaders to take up this offer. The Israeli Prime Minister claimed that he wants cease fire from Gaza into Irael, and for the Hamas to stop smuggling arms back and forth between Egypt. After a plead on Wednesday from the Hamas for Israel to cease fire, Israel gave a three hour time slot for Gazans to collect supplies and find a place for a hide-out. Including the three hour time slot, Irsrael allowed 80 supply trucks into Gaza. The Palestinian death toll is at a rising 700 people. 1/7 of that toll are children. While the Gazans have nowhere to flee to seek safety, the Israeli people have accessed bomb shelters, and outside cities for shelter. Although the Israeli people are finding shelter, the Israelis are struggling with the proven fact that Gazans are using their civilians as human sheilds, as well as their houses for military bases. What will become of this war? In my opinion, I am very happy to hear that France and Egyt are coming in for a peace treaty. I think that that puts France in good graces, as well as putting Egypt back into good graces. With the wall up in Egypt, Egypt has not treated Gaza very well. However, I think if the Egyptians do help propose this the Gazan politicians will demand the border to be removed, so that refugees could seek shelter within Egypt. This puts Egypt in a bad spot because not only is there arms trafficking already, Gazans in Egypt could create more problems then right now. War could be inflicted on Egypt from Israel, or the Gazans. However that extreme would only happen if Israel refusing to go along with the peace treaty. Gazans would have to receive some sort of relief from the Israelis as well. I am very pleased that is looking more towards the positive end of the spectrum. If theIsraelis are willing to give a three hour relief period, maybe they are willing to sacrifice more. I am excited to see how this truce pans out. Unless the problem gets completely solved between Israel and Gaza in this "temporary period," then I think that temporary will truly be a very short temporary.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-gaza-mideast_joel_08jan08,0,6488237.story