Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll from Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip continues to rise by the day. Earlier today, seven people where killed when an Israeli strike destroyed a three-story building in Gaza City. The dead included a mother and three children. At least twenty-four people were wounded in the attack, among them top Hamas commander Mohammed Deif. Israel says it was targeting a meeting of Hamas activists who had taken part in the capture of soldier Gilad Shalit. Witnesses said additional victims might still be buried beneath the rubble. Another three Palestinians —-— two militants in a police officer — were also killed today. Meanwhile, thousands of people gathered for a funeral procession for recent victims of Israeli attacks, including a one-year old girl who died last week. Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh repeated Hamas’ call for a negotiated prisoner swap.

• Palestinian PM Ismail Haniyeh: “We, in the Palestinian government, are still committed to the initiative we have made and we say that political negotiations, diplomacy and calm … are the way out of the current crisis.”