Horror day in Gaza: Boys playing hide and seek on beach when missile struck
It's an image that cuts through even the toughest souls. Grieving mothers who've dropped to their knees and are wailing in despair. Their children had been killed by a missile launched from a naval war ship. The boys, aged 9 to 11, had been playing hide and seek on the beach when the missiles were fired.
Israel had dropped flyers on northern Gaza earlier in the day to warn residents to evacuate, because Hamas targets would be destroyed. It claims it thought the children were fleeing terrorists, and is now investigating the incident.
I watched as the women were told the news. Two of them screamed, passed out, and then had to be stretchered away. This may be the tragic defining event of this horrific conflict so far.
Israel has announced a five hour "humanitarian ceasefire" that will take place later today. It has been called to allow medical supplies in to treat the wounded. It's a relief, but it's only temporary. When the five hours is up, the bombs will return.
There doesn't appear to be much of a diplomatic track being run here. The US is leading talks at this stage, but getting Israel and Hamas together has been, and will continue to be, the toughest challenge.
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