Israel allows foreigners to leave the Gaza Strip as the air and artillery strikes continue for a seventh day (02.01.2009) je 10

Israeli Foreign Minister Zipi Livni has rejected a truce for the Gaza Strip. On a visit to Paris she also said Gaza "is not facing a humanitarian crisis". That assessement has been contradicted though by International aid agencies, who say Gazans are facing severe shortages of food, medicine and fuel. Palestinian health authorities say the Israeli offensive is taking a high civilian toll - 15 per cent of the 420 dead are children. The Israeli military is now allowing foreign nationals to leave the Gaza Strip.