Israel and armed Palestinian groups in Gaza exchanged fire overnight into the early hours of Wednesday, as France proposed a ceasefire to stem more than a week of bloodshed. Israel started bombing the besieged coastal strip run by Islamist group Hamas on May 10, in response to Palestinian armed groups there firing rockets towards the Jewish state after Israeli forces cracked down on Palestinians in Jerusalem. War planes continued to hit Gaza city in the hours before dawn, flying low and keeping many people awake, an AFP correspondent there said. Randa Abu Sultan, 45, said her family were all gathered in one room to sit out the night. "We're all terrified by the sound of explosions, missiles and fighter jets," said the mother of seven. "My four-year-old son tells me he's scared that if he falls asleep he'll wake up to find us dead." Late Tuesday, an AFP photographer saw streaks of light in the sky as Israel's air defence system intercepted rockets launched from Gaza. Israeli air strikes have killed at least 217 Palestinians, including 63 children, in Gaza since May 10, the enclave's health ministry said. Palestinian groups have meanwhile killed 12 people in Israel with their...