Egypt mediates Israel-Gaza conflict as fighting continues and civilian casualties mount.

Israel and Islamic Jihad exchanged fire for a second day, with militants launching hundreds of rockets across the border and Israel hitting Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza. Egypt has begun efforts to mediate an end to the fighting, with Israel examining proposals. The Israeli military said it hit more than 50 targets, including rocket-launching sites, as blasts sounded across the Gaza Strip. In total, 20 Palestinians, including at least five women and five children, as well as three senior Islamic Jihad commanders and four gunmen have been killed since Israel launched pre-dawn strikes on Tuesday.