The truce in Gaza Strip was maintained on Tuesday for the second day in a row. Israeli political sources said Israel would complete its troop pullout from Gaza Strip before Barack Obama was sworn in as U.S. president later in the day. More than 1,300 Palestinians were killed in Israel's air and ground strikes launched on Dec. 27.
According to Reuters, Hamas said 5,000 homes, 16 government buildings and 20 mosques were destroyed and that 20,000 houses were damaged. Armed Palestinian groups said 112 of their fighters and 180 Hamas policemen were killed. Israel put its dead at 10 soldiers and said three civilians were killed in rocket attacks. Gaza medical officials said the Palestinian dead included at least 700 civilians.
Meanwhile, a 34-year-old settler was seriously wounded late on Monday when a gunman opened fire on his car near the West Bank city of Ramallah. He suffered wounds to his face from the shooting.
