View From The Gaza Border

Just before sunset there was a series of explosions that could be heard from Gaza. Some of them were very powerful and sent huge plumes of smoke into the air.

Machine gun fire and tank fire could also be heard. Israeli war planes and helicopters were seen over head.

At about the same time, the town of Bersheba in southern Israel was hit by two rockets, according to an Israeli Defense Forces spokesman. The alarms had sounded in the town beforehand.

They were latest in a series of rocket attacks today. At least nine had hit southern Israel by midday, including one in the town of Ashkelon.

I was there just after that strike. There was very light traffic on the roads. Everything was close and there were hardly any people the streets.

During Israel's three-hour pause in the offensive to allow in humanitarian assistance, IDF Capt. Benjamin Stirbling said they were able to deliver aid through two entry points to Gaza, heating oil through one and food and medicine through another.

Israeli forces were instructed not to fire accept in retaliation during this period, which happened in "at least a couple of cases," according to Stirbling.

Two Israelis I talked to in the rocket-scarred city of Sderot both felt strongly that Israel should not accept a cease-fire with Hamas until "the job is done… It would be a disaster."

I just saw a couple more big flashes. It's not over yet.