Fighting enters third day

Hello Middle East Eye readers.

The third day of Israel's offensive on Gaza started with renewed air strikes across the besieged strip, leaving at least four Palestinians killed.

At least 25 people have died since the start of the bombing campaign, including five children and five women. Another 76 people have been wounded. 

The offensive, which Israel calls "Operation Shield and Arrow," started on Tuesday when Israeli air strikes killed 13 people in overnight raids. 

The Palestinian Joint Command, an umbrella body of armed factions in Gaza, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, launched rockets towards Israel in response on Wednesday in the counter "Operation Revenge for the Free".

Fighting escalated on Wednesday night, with Israeli air strikes pounding Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian rockets fired at southern and central Israel. 

Egypt had been leading effors to broker a ceasefire, however intense fighting continued in the early hours of Thursday.

Reports say Israel has refused to stop assassinating Palestinian leaders in their homes, which was a condition put forward by Palestinian to agree to ceasefire.