RAY SUAREZ: Israel kept pounding sites in Gaza today, day three of an air assault on the militant group Hamas. Palestinian medical officials reported more than 360 dead, with 1,400 wounded. Most were Hamas police and fighters, but U.N. officials said more than 60 of the dead were civilians.
We have a report from Julian Manyon of Independent Television News.
JULIAN MANYON: More punishing Israeli air strikes have rocked the Gaza Strip. This one wrecked the Hamas interior ministry, a key component of the Islamic movement's rule.
As smoke columns rose across the densely populated enclave, most ordinary people stayed indoors praying that their district would be spared.
But one air strike last night virtually wiped out a Gaza family. Their building collapsed, leaving five of the family's six young daughters dead and their mother bewailing her loss at the morgue.
Israel's foreign minister was asked about the tragedy.
TZIPI LIVNI, foreign minister, Israel: We are trying to target Hamas, which hides among civilians. They don't care, and they really don't care what's going to happen to the citizens of Gaza. They are responsible to the situation in Gaza. Israel wants to live in peace in the region, but we cannot, because Hamas is targeting our civilians from civil population centers in Gaza.
JULIAN MANYON: At the border, the closest we could get under Israeli press restrictions, the sound of explosions boomed across the strip. A few Palestinian rockets -- almost certainly homemade -- rose in reply.
Israeli missiles fired by helicopters have just struck in the northern section of the Gaza Strip, apparently where they believe that Palestinian rocket crews may be operating.
Earlier, the Palestinians did indeed fire their rockets over our heads into the Israeli-populated area, the city of Ashkelon.
In Ashkelon, sirens wailed as the Palestinian rockets landed. One struck a building site, killing an Arab worker.
The continued rocket fire puts pressure on Israeli leaders to deliver success. But in Gaza, the human cost is rising all the time. Palestinians are bracing themselves for a possible Israeli ground assault.
RAY SUAREZ: Later, Palestinian rockets killed two more Israelis. But Hamas insisted it will not resume a six-month truce until the Israeli assault ends and border crossings reopen. The Israeli defense minister said it's "war to the bitter end" to force an end to Hamas rocket fire.
The assault on Gaza drew protests across the Middle East and around the world today. The largest was in Beirut, Lebanon, where Hezbollah supporters gathered in a square to show solidarity with the Palestinians. Anti-Israel protests were also held in European cities from Athens to London.
And in New York, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned both sides to stop. He also appealed, indirectly, for the U.S. and others to step in.
BAN KI-MOON, United Nations secretary-general: I think the regional and international partners have not done enough. They should do more. They should use all possible means to end the violence and encourage a political dialogue, emphasizing peaceful ways of resolving differences.
RAY SUAREZ: And foreign ministers from the Arab League called for a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Gaza.
The U.S. today insisted Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel. White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe spoke in Crawford, Texas, where the president is vacationing. He said Israel is defending itself against attack, and he said Hamas could have recognized Israel and renounced violence.
GORDON JOHNDROE, White House spokesman: Hamas instead is choosing to fire rockets into Israel. So as I've said before, as many people have said, Hamas has a choice to make. Right now, they're choosing to be a terrorist organization that fires rockets into Israel. That is not going to lead to a sustainable cease-fire.
RAY SUAREZ: President-elect Obama had no public comment today on Gaza. On Sunday, a spokesman said Mr. Obama wants to be "a constructive force" to bring about peace. We'll have more on the Gaza story right after this news summary.
Jitters over the Middle East sent the price of oil up today. It finished above $40 a barrel. Oil is still down more than $100 since mid-July.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 31 points to close below 8,484. The Nasdaq fell nearly 20 points to close at 1,510.
Parts of the Midwest labored today to handle the latest blast of winter storms. Warm weekend temperatures melted heavy snow and prompted flood warnings in six states.
And in Michigan, utility crews hit the ground Sunday to restore power. Winds of 60 miles an hour blew down trees and lines and cut service to more than 400,000 customers.
To the northwest, Washington state and Idaho braced for more snow from the latest in a string of the storms.
The president of Somalia, Abdullahi Yusuf, resigned today after four years in office. He told parliament he had lost control of the African nation to Islamic insurgents. They seized large chunks of territory in recent months. As a result, Yusuf had come under international pressure to change or step aside.
Thousands of protesters in Thailand surrounded parliament today and demanded new elections. They were loyalists to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He was ousted in a coup in 2006.
The protesters blocked the new prime minister from giving his initial policy speech. He's the country's third leader in just four months. Mass demonstrations forced out the previous government, as well.
