PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS EXPENDABLE

Gaza Palestinians have adapted to Israel's casualty-limiting strategy of giving notice of imminent attacks:

On Saturday night, the head of a rocket cell in the northern Gaza town of Bait Lahiya, Mohammedweil Baroud, received a warning call. Instead of getting out with his family, however, he summoned neighbours and others who surrounded the building and stood on its roof in the glare of lights. Israel called off the attack.

The Israeli military will continue targeting rocket stockpiles and launch sites:

"If we can't get to the target by air due to the human shields, we will reach it by ground and the Palestinians will pay a heavy price," said one officer. Another said that phone warnings would continue but that the 30-minute warning time might be cut so as to prevent a crowd assembling.

Any civilian casualties will be a propaganda victory for Israel's enemies.