Israel has launched an offensive from air and sea aimed at Hamas militants in Gaza. Palestinian officials say these military strikes have killed at least 10 Palestinians so far, including two children. This could be a long-term offensive, and the Israeli government is authorized to deploy 40,000 more troops.

The Israeli government says this vastly-expanded military action is aimed at stopping Palestinian rocket attacks and crippling Hamas militant forces. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said today that the operation "will probably not end within several days."

Yesterday, at least nine Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes. All of this comes after three Israeli teens were kidnapped and killed in May and one Palestinian teen was kidnapped and burned alive last week. Three young Israeli men have confessed to killing the Palestinian teen. Hamas is suspected to be behind the deaths of the three Israeli teens.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for de-escalation and an end to Israeli military strikes. Unfortunately, he has little power to control what Hamas does in Gaza.

President Obama urged Israelis to find a peaceful, two-state solution in an op-ed published in Haaretz on Tuesday.

[Image via AP]