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The article incorrectly described Nazareth as part of the West Bank. It is an Israeli town north of the West Bank.
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Food and Medical Supplies Grow Scarce in the Gaza Strip

'I Want Things to Be Different'

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Israel widened its deadliest-ever air offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers Sunday, sending more tanks and artillery toward the Gaza border for a possible ground invasion.
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In the Israeli town of Netivot, the lone Israeli killed in retaliatory strikes by Hamas was laid to rest Sunday.

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Nearly 150 people gathered to pay their last respects to Beber Vaknin, 58, a reclusive bachelor. On Saturday afternoon, two hours after Israel launched its attacks on Gaza, he had stepped outside his apartment just as a rocket crashed into the building next door; the shrapnel instantly killed him.

"From here, we send a blessing to the Israeli government and the soldiers to strengthen themselves and continue what they are doing to bring peace in the area so that we can go back to our lives," the city's mayor, Yehiel Zohar, told those gathered.

Some of those attending had mixed feelings about the attacks. They fondly remembered the days when they coexisted with Palestinians, often traveling to Gaza to eat lunch and visit friends.

"I don't feel great. I don't feel bad," said Tamar Vaknin, Beber's sister-in-law. "I say to myself, 'They are poor people'. It's a shame. I want things to be different."

Others wanted Israel to escalate their attacks and invade Gaza again.

"I hope the Israeli army will not stop," said Mordechai Amar, 48, a family friend. "They should stop the terror. In order to win, you need the ground operation."

The funeral was kept short because everyone worried about incoming rockets.

Kareem reported from Gaza City. Special correspondent Samuel Sockol contributed to this report.


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