West Jerusalem / PNN – The Israeli Cabinet decided this afternoon to continue the major attacks on the Gaza Strip that has killed 391 Palestinians since Saturday. After the vote Israeli warplanes hit Khan Younis, killing two more. Later Wednesday night Israeli forces fired missiles at the southern Strip's Rafah.

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert chaired the meeting that included defense and foreign ministers Barak and Livni.

The Israeli government and press continue to bill the attacks as a “military operation against Hamas.”

The elected Hamas government is far less affected, said Hamdi Shakura of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights today, than the civilian population of the Strip.

Olmert claimed, “Israel gave Hamas the opportunity for calm but it did not comply.” Palestinian parties note the opposite. During the six-month period of calm the Israeli administration continued to impose a siege while killing 13 Palestinians last month before enforcing a complete closure.

The outgoing Israeli Prime Minister added, “Current conditions do not allow calm in the Gaza Strip and therefore the Cabinet has rejected the French proposal for a cease-fire for a period of 48 hours for humanitarian purposes.”

Members of all factions of armed resistance launched projectiles throughout the day, numbering up to 60 by high estimates.