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| Israel renews air strikes on Gaza | Israel renews air strikes on Gaza |
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| Israeli jets have launched new air attacks on the Gaza Strip, amid warnings that operations will continue until Hamas ends rocket fire from Gaza. | Israeli jets have launched new air attacks on the Gaza Strip, amid warnings that operations will continue until Hamas ends rocket fire from Gaza. |
| Palestinian officials raised the number killed on Saturday to 271, while Israel said it targeted 30 sites overnight. | Palestinian officials raised the number killed on Saturday to 271, while Israel said it targeted 30 sites overnight. |
| At the UN, the Security Council called for an end to all violence in Gaza, including rocket attacks from Gaza. | At the UN, the Security Council called for an end to all violence in Gaza, including rocket attacks from Gaza. |
| Israel says at least 110 rockets have been fired over the weekend, and warned it may send troops into Gaza. | Israel says at least 110 rockets have been fired over the weekend, and warned it may send troops into Gaza. |
| The high numbers of casualties made Saturday the single deadliest day in the Gaza Strip since Israel's occupation of the territory in 1967, analysts said. | The high numbers of casualties made Saturday the single deadliest day in the Gaza Strip since Israel's occupation of the territory in 1967, analysts said. |
| Most of those killed were policemen in the Hamas militant movement, which controls Gaza, but women and children also died, Gaza officials said. | Most of those killed were policemen in the Hamas militant movement, which controls Gaza, but women and children also died, Gaza officials said. |
| Israel's mixed motives for strikesGaza: World reaction in quotesGaza raids: Your reactionVoices: Reaction to raids | Israel's mixed motives for strikesGaza: World reaction in quotesGaza raids: Your reactionVoices: Reaction to raids |
| About 700 others were wounded, as missiles struck security compounds and militant bases, the officials added. | About 700 others were wounded, as missiles struck security compounds and militant bases, the officials added. |
| In Israel, one person was killed, in the town of Netivot, some 20km (12 miles) east of Gaza, while there were reports of several Qassam rocket strikes early on Sunday. | In Israel, one person was killed, in the town of Netivot, some 20km (12 miles) east of Gaza, while there were reports of several Qassam rocket strikes early on Sunday. |
| Rockets landed in Ashdod, Israel's largest southern city - some 38km (23 miles) from Gaza - the deepest they have ever struck inside Israel, Israeli media said. No injuries were reported. | Rockets landed in Ashdod, Israel's largest southern city - some 38km (23 miles) from Gaza - the deepest they have ever struck inside Israel, Israeli media said. No injuries were reported. |
| Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has said military operations could widen to include a ground operation if air strikes fail to change Hamas's behaviour. | Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has said military operations could widen to include a ground operation if air strikes fail to change Hamas's behaviour. |
| Military fighter jets have already targeted 210 sites since the operation began on Saturday, Israeli security sources said. | Military fighter jets have already targeted 210 sites since the operation began on Saturday, Israeli security sources said. |
| 'Protecting citizens' | 'Protecting citizens' |
| Gazans are preparing to hold funerals for those killed on Saturday, while a general strike has been called for the Palestinian territories. | Gazans are preparing to hold funerals for those killed on Saturday, while a general strike has been called for the Palestinian territories. |
| A resident describes the attacks in Gaza | A resident describes the attacks in Gaza |
| At the UN, the Security Council ended emergency talks with a call for an end to hostilities, speaking of "serious concern" at the escalation of the situation in Gaza. | At the UN, the Security Council ended emergency talks with a call for an end to hostilities, speaking of "serious concern" at the escalation of the situation in Gaza. |
| Just before the council gathered, Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, repeated Israel's stance that it was taking action to "protect its citizens from further terrorist attacks". | Just before the council gathered, Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, repeated Israel's stance that it was taking action to "protect its citizens from further terrorist attacks". |
| "No country would allow continuous rocketing of its civilian population without taking the necessary actions to stop it," she said in a statement. | "No country would allow continuous rocketing of its civilian population without taking the necessary actions to stop it," she said in a statement. |
| As air raids continued, Palestinian medical officials said two people were killed when a mosque was struck late on Saturday night in Gaza City. A Hamas-run TV station was also targeted, reports said. | As air raids continued, Palestinian medical officials said two people were killed when a mosque was struck late on Saturday night in Gaza City. A Hamas-run TV station was also targeted, reports said. |
| A BBC journalist in Gaza City said a Hamas-run government building was also bombed on Sunday. | A BBC journalist in Gaza City said a Hamas-run government building was also bombed on Sunday. |
| In Saturday's main incidents: | In Saturday's main incidents: |
| • Israel hit targets in all Gaza's main towns, including Gaza City in the north and Khan Younis and Rafah in the south | • Israel hit targets in all Gaza's main towns, including Gaza City in the north and Khan Younis and Rafah in the south |
| • Hamas said all its security compounds in the strip were destroyed; the head of Gaza's police was among those killed | • Hamas said all its security compounds in the strip were destroyed; the head of Gaza's police was among those killed |
| • Medical officials said most of those killed were Hamas policemen, but civilians were among the dead | • Medical officials said most of those killed were Hamas policemen, but civilians were among the dead |
| • Staff at Gaza City's main hospital, Shifa, said it was struggling to cope with the influx of injuries. Egypt opened its border at Rafah to allow some injured people to seek help. | • Staff at Gaza City's main hospital, Shifa, said it was struggling to cope with the influx of injuries. Egypt opened its border at Rafah to allow some injured people to seek help. |
| 'Time for fighting' | 'Time for fighting' |
| The raids came days after a six month truce with Hamas expired and as Israel prepared for a general election in February. | The raids came days after a six month truce with Hamas expired and as Israel prepared for a general election in February. |
| Palestine has never witnessed an uglier massacre Ismail HaniyehHamas leader in Gaza In pictures: Gaza attack aftermathUK concern over Gaza raidMalnutrition and shortages in GazaIsrael warns Hamas over rockets | Palestine has never witnessed an uglier massacre Ismail HaniyehHamas leader in Gaza In pictures: Gaza attack aftermathUK concern over Gaza raidMalnutrition and shortages in GazaIsrael warns Hamas over rockets |
| Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has explained operation in stark terms, saying "the time has come to fight". He said the operation could be expanded if necessary and has refused to rule out a ground incursion into Gaza. | Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has explained operation in stark terms, saying "the time has come to fight". He said the operation could be expanded if necessary and has refused to rule out a ground incursion into Gaza. |
| In response the exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, called for a new intifada, or uprising, against Israel, while the movement's Gaza leader, Ismail Haniya, said there would be no surrender. | In response the exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, called for a new intifada, or uprising, against Israel, while the movement's Gaza leader, Ismail Haniya, said there would be no surrender. |
| "Palestine has never witnessed an uglier massacre," Mr Haniya said. | "Palestine has never witnessed an uglier massacre," Mr Haniya said. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the operation "may take some time" - but he pledged to avoid a humanitarian crisis. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the operation "may take some time" - but he pledged to avoid a humanitarian crisis. |
| Mr Barak says an aid and medical convoy will be allowed into Gaza in the wake of the bombings. | Mr Barak says an aid and medical convoy will be allowed into Gaza in the wake of the bombings. |
| International reaction to the bombing has been dominated by calls for restraint. The US said it was concerned by the violence, but blamed Hamas for persisting with rocket attacks. | International reaction to the bombing has been dominated by calls for restraint. The US said it was concerned by the violence, but blamed Hamas for persisting with rocket attacks. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Middle East envoy Tony Blair and the French EU presidency also called for a ceasefire. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Middle East envoy Tony Blair and the French EU presidency also called for a ceasefire. |
| Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak defends Gaza strike | Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak defends Gaza strike |
| Although a six-month truce between Hamas and Israel was agreed earlier this year, it was regularly under strain and was allowed to lapse when it expired this month. | Although a six-month truce between Hamas and Israel was agreed earlier this year, it was regularly under strain and was allowed to lapse when it expired this month. |
| Hamas blamed Israel for the end of the ceasefire, saying it had not respected its terms, including the lifting of the blockade under which little more than humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza. | Hamas blamed Israel for the end of the ceasefire, saying it had not respected its terms, including the lifting of the blockade under which little more than humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza. |
| Israel said it initially began easing the blockade, but this was halted when Hamas failed to fulfil what Israel says were agreed conditions, including ending all rocket fire and halting weapons smuggling. | Israel said it initially began easing the blockade, but this was halted when Hamas failed to fulfil what Israel says were agreed conditions, including ending all rocket fire and halting weapons smuggling. |