Mideast Crisis

Israel Pounds Gaza

50 airstrikes ahead of cease-fire vote.

Israeli forces may be getting in a final show of force before the Israeli security cabinet votes on instituting a unilateral cease-fire. The military deployed 50 airstrikes in Gaza overnight, with Palestinians claiming a tank shell killed at least two children staying at a UN school. It is unclear if Israel’s proposed truce would be accepted by Hamas. "As long as it [the Israeli military] remains in Gaza, resistance and confrontation will continue,” a spokesman said. The security cabinet vote Saturday evening comes on the heels of “significant progress” with Egyptian mediators, who had proposed a 10-day halt in fighting that has been under way since December 27.