Mothers, children join protesters in West Bank as Israel continues airstrikes on Gaza

Today, Israeli forces continued to target Gaza with airstrikes. F16 jets shelled densely populated neighborhoods, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. An FSRN reporter on the ground in the Maghazi area of Gaza City reported ongoing shelling and frightened residents taking cover inside buildings.  Palestinian Health Ministry updated the death toll today to at least 112 people, almost half of whom are civilians and nearly 20 children.  According to Haaretz, only six of those killed can be confirmed as members of militant groups.  Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi indicated that Israel would end airstikes today, according to the BBC. A Hamas official in Cairo told Reuters that hostilities would end at midnight, but a formal ceasefire has not yet been announced as we go to air.  In the West Bank, Palestinians protested in solidarity with Gazans. Israeli soldiers used tear gas, chemical water and live ammunition to counter stone throwing youth protesting for the sixth day in row. Two civilians were killed in those clashes so far. FSRN’s Ghassan Bannoura reports.