GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israel demanded international monitors as a key term of any truce with Gaza militants, as its warplanes bombed the parliament building in Gaza City today and its ships attacked coastline positions of the territory's Islamic Hamas rulers.

An international agreement to set up such a force would give Israel a way to end its devastating, six-day offensive against Hamas, even as thousands of Israeli ground troops massed along the border in anticipation of a possible land invasion.

So far, the campaign to crush rocket fire on southern Israel has been conducted largely from the air, and a poll today showed most Israelis aren't eager to see a ground push.

Military spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovich said preparations for a ground operation were complete.

Gaza officials said more than 400 people have died and 1,700 have been wounded since Israel began its aerial campaign on Saturday.

The U.N. says at least 60 Palestinian civilians have died, 34 of them children.

In Israel, three civilians and a soldier have been killed by rocket fire that has reached deeper than ever into Israel, bringing one-eighth of Israel's population within rocket range.

International intervention helped Israel to accept a truce that ended its 2006 war with Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas, when the U.N. agreed to station peacekeepers to enforce the terms. This time, Israel isn't seeking a peacekeeping force, but a monitoring body that would judge compliance on both sides.

BANGKOK, Thailand — A fire raced through a two-story nightclub packed with hundreds of well-heeled New Year's revelers early today, killing at least 61 people as they stampeded to escape the raging flames.More than 200 were injured, including 35 foreigners.The cause of the fire in a Bangkok entertainment district was under investigation but several witnesses said a fireworks display during the New Year's countdown ignited the blaze.A number of foreigners were among the casualties at the Santika Club, which attracted an affluent crowd of young Thais as well as expatriates and tourists.Hospital rosters showed 13 foreigners were treated for injuries and one man, a Singaporean national, had died. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia said three of its nationals were also among the hospitalized.Victims died from burns, smoke inhalation and injuries during the stampede from the club, which had only one door for the public, police Maj. Gen. Chokchai Deeprasertwit said.Firefighters said a door at the rear was known only to the staff, while an Associated Press reporter saw a third door at one side of the building.Firefighter Watcharapong Sri-saard said in addition to a lack of exits, a number of staircases inside the club as well as bars across the second-floor windows made escape difficult.

MOSCOW — Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom says it has cut all gas supplies to Ukraine after talks on a new supply deal failed.Gazprom spokesman Igor Volobuyev says the cuts began as planned at 10 a.m. today.A spokesman for Ukrainian gas company Naftogaz has confirmed a steady drop in supplies.There are fears that a cutoff could lead to a replay of a January 2006 gas crisis.In that instance, a similar dispute between Russia and Ukraine briefly interrupted gas shipments to many European countries.Ukraine controls the pipelines through which Russia supplies most of its customers in Europe.