Palestinian demonstrator during a protest near Damascus Gate....

A Palestinian woman wounded in the recent Israeli air strikes, lies in al-Shifa hospital in Gaza December 31, 2008. Israel on Wednesday rebuffed French calls for a 48-hour humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip and stepped up preparations for a possible ground offensive after Hamas's long-range rockets hit a major population centre

Israeli police officers detain a Palestinian demonstrator during a protest near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City against Israel's offensive in Gaza December 31, 2008. According to an Israeli police spokesperson several people were arrested for taking part in an illegal gathering in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Israeli police officers detain a Palestinian demonstrator during a protest near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City December 31, 2008. According to an Israeli police spokesperson several people were arrested in Jerusalem for taking part in an illegal gathering against Israel's offensive in Gaza on Wednesday.

Israeli police officers detain a Palestinian demonstrator during a protest near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City December 31, 2008. According to an Israeli police spokesperson several people were arrested in Jerusalem for taking part in an illegal gathering against Israel's offensive in Gaza on Wednesday

Palestinian boy Hosam Hamdan lies on December 31, 2008 in Gaza City’s al-Shifa hospital intensive care unity after he was wounded and his two sisters killed in an Israeli air strike in Beit Hanun, northern Gaza Strip. At least 25 percent of Palestinians killed during Israel's massive offensive in the Gaza Strip have been civilians, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said today. Since the start of the Israeli offensive on Saturday at least 390 Palestinians have been killed and another 1,900 wounded, according to Gaza medics. At least 42 of those killed have been children, they say.