UN Chief Heads to Mideast Seeking Gaza Truce as Toll Mounts
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United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon heads to the Middle East today to prod efforts to end fighting between Israel and Gaza Strip militants that has pushed the Palestinian death toll past 300 and sent millions of Israelis running for cover from rocket fire.
As Israel pressed ahead with the ground offensive it launched on July 17, artillery fire killed eight members of one family and five members of another, the Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement. Soldiers, backed by tanks, artillery, aircraft and warships, moved into the Hamas-controlled enclave after 2,100 air strikes over 10 days and Egyptian truce efforts failed to quell rocket barrages.