The Gaza strip conflict between Hamas and the Israelis escalated dramatically overnight.
The incessant bombardment suffered overnight in raids by Israeli warplanes provoked an angry response by Hamas leaders.
Residents of Gaza unleashed the full ferocity of their missile-launchers upon the Israelis, causing chaos and panic among locals of both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, who ran for shelter in terror as the skies filled with the new threat.
By daybreak, southernmost settlements were knee deep in shoes, sandals and other assorted footwear.
An Israeli Defense Department spokesperson stated: What could we do? Our radar systems could not pick up anything as they had sneakily removed all the buckles before firing them at us.
A Hamas spokesperson explained that, should the Israeli air attacks continue, Hamas would have no option than to escalate the conflict still further. He said: "We have not washed our bodies, nor changed our underwear for over a week."
This has been seen by US State Department officials as an unambiguous intent of bombardment using filthy socks and underpants - a terrifying threat of backyard biological warfare which may finally break the resolve of Israel.
Support for the inhabitants of Gaza has been growing in Damascus, Teheran and Cairo, where Al Quaeda, Hezbollah and Taliban forces have called for the Arab world to unite in a joint operation against Israel.
In response to an international appeal for help by the Israeli Defense Department, US President George W Bush has asked Condaleezza Rice to mediate in order to bring about a ceasefire, and to co-ordinate the delivery of thousands of tons of detergent to the Israelis.
