The decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict re-emerged in Gaza as Israel continued for the second day its retaliatary strikes in response to a Palestinian rocket attack on a school bus a day earlier.

Israeli aircraft and tanks pounded Gaza Friday and early Saturday killing taking as many as 17 lives. According to reports, 10 militants, a Hamas policeman, and six civilians have been killed in Israel's two-day retaliation.

On first day, three civilians were killed by Israeli tank fire and three militants were killed in an airstrike, near the southern Gaza town of Khunis.

A 11-year-old boy was among those killed in Israeli tank shell attack on a cemetery east of Gaza City.

The strikes continue even after the United Nations called for the peace. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Friday condemned the bus attack and expressed concern over civilian casualties in Israel's strikes; besides calling for de-escalation and calm to prevent any further bloodshed. He urged an immediate end to rocket fire at Israel and maximum restraint by Israel.

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