Israel rejects French proposal for 48 hour truce
Israel on Wednesday described as "unrealistic" a French proposal for a truce that would halt hostilities with Hamas for 48 hours so that more humanitarian aid could reach the Gaza Strip. "That proposal contained no guarantees of any kind that Hamas will stop the rockets and smuggling," Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said, according to Reuters. "It is not realistic to expect Israel to cease fire unilaterally with no mechanism to enforce the cessation of shooting and terror from Hamas."
Palmor however, said Israel had not rejected the proposal, one of several under consideration, outright. Another Israeli official said France might propose amendments to its plan.
On the ground, an Israeli army spokesman said two air strikes, one on smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt and another on government offices in Gaza City, were launched on Wednesday. There were no reports of casualties.