A three-story building was struck by Israeli missiles on Sunday, killing an estimated 56 civilians. The building was housing a number of disabled children who were seeking shelter from bombardment with their mothers. 34 children and 12 women are amongst the dead. This tragedy is the single bloodiest incident since Israel started bombing Lebanon 19 days ago. As is their policy, Israeli officials blamed Hezbollah for the massacre of women and children, spouting something about human shields and harboring terrorists. The current civilian death toll of Lebanon is around 750, more than 41 times that of Israel’s civilian death toll.

Following international bad press, Israel has decided to suspend its air raids on southern Lebanon for 48 hours starting at 2 am, Monday. In a curious move, uncharacteristic of Israel’s usual combative policy, Israeli officials said they will coordinate a 24-hour period with the UN for civilians in southern Lebanon to be allowed to flee north where there is less bombardment. While this seems like a move in the right direction, perhaps I better save my applause, since Israel has also said it reserves the right to cut the 48 hour suspension short at any time.

The PM of Israel has said there would be no let-up of his offensive. Israeli Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, told parliament that, “Israel will expand and strengthen its activities” against Lebanon. Contrary to the Israeli government, the Lebanese government once again attempted to forge a lasting resolution to the conflict. An envoy sent to the UN, expressed his frustration with the inadequate suspension, telling reporters, “There is no cease-fire and there is no cessation of hostilities.” He continued, “We are looking for something much more than that.” Likewise, the PM of Lebanon called for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” in the wake of the deaths, denouncing Israeli officials as “war criminals” for their indiscriminant bombing of civilian infrastructures.

source 1
source 2