Gaza Truce Efforts Intensify After Israeli Shells Hit UN School

Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Mounting casualties among Palestinian civilians and its own troops are increasing pressure on Israel as an offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip aimed at stopping rocket fire on towns and cities entered a 12th day.

Israeli forces yesterday struck a school run by the United Nations, killing at least 30 Palestinians hiding in the compound, a UN official said. Israel said it was returning fire after its soldiers were fired at from the building.

The school deaths added urgency to diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a cease-fire. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak proposed a new initiative last night and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been lobbying throughout the region for a truce, said the casualties at the school demonstrate the urgent need to stop the fighting. “Time works against us,” he said.

The incident at the school may force the Israeli government to scale back the military offensive.

“If it becomes the dominant story for the next 48 hours, especially in the U.S., then it will give Hamas a significant advantage,” Gerald Steinberg, a professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University, said in a telephone interview.