In Gaza, Palestinians have suffered one of their bloodiest days since the second intifada began four years ago. 40 Palestinians and five Israelis died yesterday after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered a major offensive in the Gaza Strip. Today Sharon ordered 100 more Israeli tanks to enter Gaza in an operation codenamed “Days of Penitence.” Haaretz is reporting the military has seized a large strip of northern Gaza near the Israeli border to create a six mile buffer zone. The paper said the plan was reminiscent of the Israeli security zone created on seized Lebanese land after the 1982 invasion. Israel has defended the assault saying it was needed to stop Hamas from firing rockets into Israeli towns and settlements. On Wednesday two Israeli children were killed by a rocket attack.