Gaza fighting continues for a 4th day, with Israel carrying out another 9 air strikes on 9 targets (1 in Abassan, 3 in Bayt Lahiya, 3 in Gaza City, 1 in alQarara, 1 in Rafah), killing 6 Palestinians (4 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and 2 civilians, including 1 woman) and wounding 5 (2 Islamic Jihad mbrs. and 3 civilians, including 2 children). Islamic Jihad and the PRCs continue to fire rockets and mortars into Israel (at least 163 since 3/9), injuring 2 Israelis and damaging 2 buildings. Late in the evening, Egypt says it has mediated a cease-fire, but no one on the Israeli or Palestinian side immediately confirms. In the West Bank, the IDF patrols in 2 villages nr. Tulkarm and 1 nr. Ramallah in the morning; conducts late-night patrols in 1 village nr. Ramallah and late-night arrest raids, house searches nr. Nablus. (JP, YA 3/12; NYT, WP, WT, YA 3/13; PCHR 3/15; OCHA 3/16)
Monday, March 12, 2012