Refugees surge raise concerns of a broader Gaza war ATFP World Press Roundup Article from International Herald Tribune by Taghreed El-Khodary, Sabrina Tavernise - January 13, 2009 - 1:00am GAZA: Growing numbers of Palestinians are fleeing their homes for makeshift shelters in schools, office buildings and a park as the Israeli Army continues to press its military campaign deeper into the city of Gaza. According to the United Nations, about 30,000 people are living in schools it sponsors, and an estimated 60,000 have fled to the houses of relatives. The figures represent a small part of Gaza's 1.5 million population but have doubled in the past four days, UN officials said, raising concerns about the humanitarian impact of a broader war. » Read more

In Gaza, Hamas is battered, not broken, Israeli official says ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Jeffrey Fleishman, Sebastian Rotella - January 13, 2009 - 1:00am Reporting from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem — The military power of Hamas has been weakened and its political leadership is divided over plans for a possible ceasefire, but an Israeli intelligence official said today that the radical group remains formidable, with 15,000 fighters and a sophisticated arsenal of rockets and anti-tank weapons and tunnels. » Read more

Israeli Officials Say Hamas Damaged But Not Destroyed ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Steven Erlanger, Sabrina Tavernise - January 13, 2009 - 1:00am TEL AVIV — As Israeli forces tightened their circle around Gaza on Tuesday, senior Israeli intelligence officials said Hamas military forces had been damaged but remained substantially intact. The intelligence officials were briefing reporters. » Read more