Israel continues Gaza attack amid growing calls for truce

GAZA CITY, Gaza - Israel ignored mounting international calls for a cease-fire yesterday and said it would not stop its crippling 10-day assault until "peace and tranquility" had been achieved in southern Israeli towns targeted by Palestinian rocket fire. Friendly fire killed three Israeli soldiers.

Israeli forces seized control of high-rise buildings and attacked smuggling tunnels and several mosques in a campaign against Hamas extremists that took an increasing toll on civilians. At least 20 children were reported killed during shelling yesterday.

Arab delegates met with the U.N. Security Council in New York, urging members to adopt a resolution calling for an immediate end to the Israeli attacks and a permanent cease-fire. European leaders traveled the region in an effort to stop Israel's expanding ground and air offensive.

In a serious urban clash, Israeli troops and Hamas extremists fought a gun battle on the outskirts of the crowded Gaza City neighborhood of Shajaiyeh, Israeli officials said.

Israeli Brig. Gen. Avi Benayahu told Israeli TV the assault was going according to plan, with forces sweeping through Palestinian rocket-launching sites near the border.

Later, the Israeli military said three soldiers had been killed and 24 wounded yesterday evening by friendly fire. It said an errant Israeli tank shell hit their position outside Gaza City. The military said a colonel who commanded an infantry brigade was among the injured. The friendly-fire deaths brought to eight the number of Israelis killed since the offensive began.

While Israel has said casualties have been heavy among extremists, no injured Hamas fighters were seen yesterday by an AP reporter at Shifa Hospital, Gaza's largest. Instead, the hospital was overwhelmed with civilians. Bodies were two to a morgue drawer, and the wounded were being treated in hallways because beds were full.

Gaza health officials said that since the campaign began Dec. 27, more than 550 Palestinians - including 200 civilians - have been killed and 2,500 wounded. U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes said in New York yesterday that U.N. officials believed at least 500 people had been killed, and that as many as 25 percent were civilians.

Holmes called the Gaza strife an "increasingly alarming" humanitarian crisis. Israeli leaders have maintained that there is no humanitarian crisis and that they have been delivering vital supplies.

In Shajaiyeh, troops seized control of three six-story buildings on the outskirts, climbing to rooftop gun and observation positions, Israeli defense officials said. Residents were locked in their rooms and soldiers took away their cell phones, a neighbor said.

Fighter jets attacked houses, weapons-storage sites and two mosques. They also targeted smuggling tunnels. Israel has attacked several mosques, saying they were used to store weapons. Israeli forces also seized a main highway in Gaza, slicing the territory in two.

The State Department said the United States was pressing for a cease-fire that would include a halt to Hamas rocket attacks and an arrangement for reopening crossing points on the border with Israel, spokesman Sean McCormack said. A third element of the proposal would address the tunnels into Gaza from Egypt through which Hamas has smuggled materials and arms.

A Hamas leader, Moussa Abu Marzouk, rejected the U.S. proposal, saying it encouraged Israel to continue its attacks on Gaza.

Israel has three main demands: an end to Palestinian attacks, international supervision of any truce, and a halt to Hamas rearming.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy met yesterday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007. Europe "wants a cease-fire as quickly as possible," Sarkozy said. He urged Israel to halt its offensive and blamed Hamas for acting "irresponsibly and unpardonably."

Abbas planned to be in New York today to urge the United Nations to adopt a revamped Arab-backed resolution.

A European Union delegation met with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, also urging cessation of hostilities.