Israel Resumes Gaza Assault After Break for Aid

As Civilian Suffering Increases, Plan for Distribution of Supplies Is Announced; Diplomatic Efforts for Cease-Fire Continue

Israel's security cabinet Wednesday approved a continuation of its ground assault in the Gaza Strip, and resumed strikes in the territory after a lull it called to expedite the distribution of humanitarian aid.

Israeli officials said a high-ranking negotiating team had been approved to pursue a more permanent cease-fire plan put forth late Tuesday by Egypt and France. The proposal is aimed at halting the fighting between Israel and the Hamas militants ruling over Gaza. It is also intended to alleviate what United Nations officials call a deepening humanitarian crisis in the territory.

Israel said Wednesday it would observe a three-hour cease-fire every other day to allow aid to be distributed in Gaza.

Nevertheless, movement of crucial aid into and throughout the war-torn territory was still slow Wednesday, pushing already-dire conditions for Gaza's 1.5 million people toward a crisis.

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Israeli soldiers mourn the death of fellow soldier Alex Mashavisky at his funeral in Beersheba on Wednesday, the day after Mr. Mashavisky was killed during Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Around 683 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, including more than 100 children, and roughly 3,000 have been wounded, according to U.N. officials. Ten Israelis have been killed, including three civilians.

Israel showed little urgency Wednesday in its public diplomacy, despite growing international pressure to end the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had been expected by some diplomats to fly to Egypt Wednesday. But Israel's state radio reported Wednesday that lower-level negotiators, including an army general and Mr. Olmert's diplomatic adviser, could arrive in Egypt as early as Thursday. Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit also said an Israeli team was coming to Egypt on Thursday to discuss the peace initiative.

Mr. Olmert's spokesman said Wednesday that the team wouldn't soften the government's position that a cease-fire would have to include a complete cessation of attacks by Hamas, as well as an international monitoring body to be stationed on the Egyptian-Gaza border to ensure that Hamas can't replenish its weapons arsenal.

Israel says it doesn't want to increase Hamas's legitimacy by negotiating a cease-fire directly with the group, and it wants the terms of any new agreement to increase the power of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah party, Hamas's rivals.

Despite a flurry of other negotiating tracks, including talks pursued by Turkey, Cairo has become the hub of diplomacy over the Gaza conflict in the past few days. Egypt has served as a mediator between Israel and Hamas before, helping to broker the six-month cease-fire between the two sides, which ended last month.

In the absence of clear diplomatic leadership from the U.S., Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and French President Nicolas Sarkozy appear to be trying to step into the void. Hamas sent a delegation of its representatives from Syria and Lebanon to the Egyptian capital on Tuesday to discuss a proposed cease-fire plan announced by the two leaders.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice extended her stay in New York Wednesday in order to discuss the Egyptian-French initiative and other possible diplomatic avenues aimed at forging a cease-fire, U.S. officials said. Ms. Rice met with Egypt's foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, as well as other senior Arab and European diplomats.

Gaza Conflict Intensifies

See the steps that led up to Israeli troops entering Gaza.

Ms. Rice said the U.S. applauds Egypt's efforts toward a cease-fire. "We're supporting that initiative. I've been in very close discussions with my Arab colleagues, but also with the Israelis about the importance of moving that initiative forward," she said.

Washington is supporting Israel's demand that Hamas's ability to rearm and smuggle contraband into the Gaza Strip needs to be addressed before a sustainable cease-fire is put in place.

Hamas leaders have indicated their willingness to pursue another cease-fire with Israel, as long as Israeli troops leave Gaza and the army eases a months-long blockade of the territory. Israel has said it needs to seal Gaza's border for security reasons, following Hamas's takeover of the territory in the summer of 2007.

During the three-hour lull in fighting by Israel, Hamas also held its rocket fire. Before and after the break Wednesday, however, Israeli artillery and fighter jets bombed 40 targets in Gaza, according to Israeli military officials.

Hamas-linked militants, meanwhile, launched rockets that hit deep into southern Israel. At least eight Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks, according to Palestinian officials. No Israeli casualties were reported Wednesday.