The CBC is reporting that some 39 Canadians remain stuck in Gaza despite efforts to shepherd them away from the conflict zone. The initial plan was to bus foreigners in Gaza, including the Canadians, across the the border into Israel, but officials turned the bus back at the border point, claiming it was too dangerous. Mark Regev, an Israeli government spokesperson, told the broadcaster he was “hopeful that it will happen today. We want to get those people out. They shouldn’t be caught up in the conflict if at all possible.”
Meanwhile, Israeli troops have intensified their ground offensive into Gaza, leaving at least 20 more dead. Though a senior Hamas leader has claimed that “victory is coming” for his group, Israel insists Hamas has been hit “hard” and that its incursion will continue unabated. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has categorically rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying Israel is “fighting with terror and we are not reaching an agreement with terror.”