Run for cover - the Israelis are coming

Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen fought throughout today in the biggest outbreak of violence since the abduction of an Israeli soldier almost two weeks ago. By this afternoon there were reports of the death of at least 10 Palestinians (make that 18) and an Israeli soldier. It was not clear if the dead Palestinians were fighters, civilians or both.

Does it even matter whether they're fighters or civilians? They're all targets. They're all fighting for their lives.

In the early hours of this morning Israeli forces took over settlements they evacuated 10 months ago in northern Gaza and pushed to the outskirts of Beit Lahiya. There has been little progress in international negotiations on the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit, 19, but Israel increased its offensive against Gazan militants after three Qassams rockets hit central Ashkelon, an area that was previously out of range.

At least two of the dead Palestinians were killed in a separate incident in Khan Yunis in the south of Gaza. Supported by navy gunboats and helicopter gunships, Israeli tanks and bulldozers were destroying orchards and crops BEFORE Palestinian gunmen began to attack them. Echoes of machine gun fire from tanks and helicopters reverberated around the northern Gaza town, as Israeli forces fired hundreds of thousands of bullets around them. The machine gun volleys were occasionally interrupted by the pop of an assault rifle and the occasional explosion.

Destroying orchards and crops??? Firing hundreds of thousands of bullets??? Are they possessed? If it wasn't happening before my eyes I wouldn't believe it.

Around 100 metres from Israeli positions two ambulances waited for the all clear to pick up casualties. Mohammad Farajalah, 24, an ambulance man, said they were aware of four casualties nearby but they were waiting for the Red Cross to negotiate safe passage for them, from the Israelis. "We were called out to a casualty and we found ourselves in front of a tank.There was shooting all around us and we had to wait there two hours until they allowed us to go. While we were there I saw a bulldozer tearing down trees, protected by three tanks," he said.

Unbelievable. Israelis aim to wipe Palestinians off the map.