Israel on Tuesday stood by its new policy of firing artillery shells at rocket squads operating from populated areas in Gaza, even after a round killed an 8-year-old Palestinian girl. The military intensified its offensive against Palestinian rocket fire after the Islamic militant group Hamas took charge of the Palestinian Authority two weeks ago. In a major policy shift, it has begun allowing guns to fire close enough to hit populated areas. That change claimed the life of Hadil Ghaben, 8, on Monday, after two shells blew huge holes in a concrete block house in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip. The girl’s mother and seven siblings were hurt in the attack. Full Story