On day seven, there has been no let-up in Israel’s military offensive against Hamas militants behind rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.<br /><br />Rocket launch sites, senior Hamas leaders and buildings used by the Islamist group are the Israelis’ stated targets – but civilians are dying.<br /><br />More than 170 Palestinians have been killed according to Gaza officials. The UN believes civilians account for 77 percent of the fatalities.<br /><br />Thousands are fleeing northern Gaza after Israel warned it was intensifying air strikes. Some in Gaza City have taken refuge in a school run by The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). They are struggling to survive amid the most basic living conditions.<br /><br />“There is no water in the bathrooms or for drinking. People bring it from outside,” said Manar al Attar, who sought shelter in the building with her children.<br /><br />“We left our homes and belongings, everything, and came here where there is nothing. It is not even fit for animals. Our children are sleeping on the floor.”<br /><br />Israel says it shot down a drone from Gaza on Monday, the first reported deployment of an unmanned aircraft by Palestinian militants whose rocket attacks have been regularly intercepted.<br /><br />Meanwhile rockets were fired at Israel from southern Lebanon, in the third such rocket attack from the neighbouring country since Friday, drawing retaliatory artillery fire from Israeli forces.<br /><br />In the West Bank, a 21-year-old Palestinian man was reported killed near Hebron, after clashes between the Israeli army and protesters denouncing the Gaza conflict.
