Israeli ground forces continue massing on the Gaza border on day six of the offensive against the Palestinian Territory - je 01.01.2009 12
Constanze TressJanuary 1, 2009
To the situation in the Mideast now - where Israel is continuing its air and artillery strikes on the Gaza Strip for a sixth day. Meeting to discuss the crisis - the UN Security Council FAILED to agree on a draft resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and the Hamas government in Gaza. The United States rejected the text circulated by Libya, which Washington called unbalanced because it made no mention of Hamas halting the rocket attacks against Israel. No vote was taken - but the Palestinian UN observer said Arab states would be working to gain approval of a binding resolution. Thursday saw Israeli war planes hitting various targets in the Gaza Strip. The emergency services there say 400 people have been killed and more than two thousand wounded since the onslaught began. The U.N. says the people of Gaza are facing an "alarming" humanitarian situation - with the main power plant down, hospitals overcrowded and food dwindling rapidly.