By Agencies

Israel's no-holds-barred bombardment of Gaza, which commenced on Tuesday, is the latest chapter in the Palestinians’ seemingly never-ending saga of misery. While Palestinians throughout the occupied territories have been victims of Israeli high-handedness for decades, Gaza’s plight has been particularly tragic.

Israel vowed no let-up in its aerial bombardment of Gaza, which has claimed more than 162 Palestinian lives, as a defiant Hamas rained more rockets on the Jewish state.

Both sides have dismissed calls for a truce, and Israel continued to build up troops along the Gaza border ahead of a possible ground invasion, warning Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes.

Israeli navy commandos launched a ground operation overnight in the north of the Gaza Strip, the first since the offensive against Hamas began, Israeli public radio said early Sunday.

Below is a pictorial overview of events that led to the brutal bombardment of Gaza.

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Read the Washington Post story here.

Read the Dawn editorial on Gaza here.

Read the Al Jazeera story here.

Read the WaPo report here.