Israel warns of long Gaza war as Palestinian fighters cross border

(Reuters) - A grim-faced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Monday of a protracted war in Gaza, dashing any hopes of a swift end to the three-week conflict as Palestinian fighters launched an audacious cross-border raid.

The Israeli army said five of its soldiers died in two separate incidents, including four in a mortar strike. Local media also reported casualties in the infiltration, but there was no immediate confirmation of this.

Inside Gaza itself, eight children and two adults were killed by a blast in a park as an unofficial truce sought by the United Nations for the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival collapsed.

Residents blamed the explosion on an airstrike, but Israel said a misfiring militant rocket caused the carnage.

"It has been a difficult, painful day," Netanyahu said in a televised address to the nation.

Israel is not looking for peace. They are looking for domination and completely wiping out Palestine altogether. This is a war that should have never happened in the first place. What makes me so angry is this situation comes down to politicians who lack the ability to compromise on important issues without involving citizens in their nonsense. Over 1,000 people have been killed and yet the elite's response is more war? Really?

Israel is complaining about 5 soldiers being killed? when every time they bmb the Palestinians, innocent children and cicilians die... oh my the double standard, and as soon you crticise them, the American lobbyist start spouting how anti-semetic you are...