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Israel renews air strikes on Gaza Israel renews air strikes on Gaza
(about 2 hours later)
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 in Saturday's strikes to 271. If confirmed that would make it the bloodiest day in Gaza's history. Palestinian officials raised the number killed on Saturday to 271, while Israel said it targeted 30 sites overnight.
The UN Security Council called for an immediate end to all violence in Gaza. At the UN, the Security Council called for an end to all violence in Gaza, including rocket attacks from Gaza.
Gazans are preparing to hold funerals while a general strike has been called for the Palestinian territories. Israel says at least 110 rockets have been fired over the weekend, and warned it may send troops into Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said operations could begin on the ground if air strikes did not change Hamas's behaviour. 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.
'Protecting citizens'
At the UN, the Security Council held emergency talks, and was said to be discussing a Russian-drafted statement.
Officials emerged to issue a call for an immediate end to all military activities in the Gaza Strip, seen as including both Israeli strikes and Palestinian rocket 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. Israel's mixed motives for strikesGaza: World reaction in quotesGaza raids: Your reactionVoices: Reaction to raids
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
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.
Israel said it was responding to an escalation in rocket attacks from Gaza and would bomb "as long as necessary". 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.
The air raids continued into Sunday morning, while Israeli tanks were deployed just outside Gaza. 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.
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. 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 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the operation "may take some time" - but he pledged to avoid a humanitarian crisis. Military fighter jets have already targeted 210 sites since the operation began on Saturday, Israeli security sources said.
"It's not going to last a few days,'' he said in a televised statement, flanked by Defence Minister Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. 'Protecting citizens'
Staff at the main hospital in Gaza said operating rooms were overflowing, it was running out of medicine, and there were not enough surgeons to cope. 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
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".
"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.
A BBC journalist in Gaza City said a Hamas-run government building was also bombed on Sunday.
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
• 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
• 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 truce with Hamas expired. The raids came days after a six month truce with Hamas expired and as Israel prepared for a general election in February.
Mr Barak said "there is a time for calm and a time for fighting, and now the time has come to fight". He told the BBC it was "not realistic" to call off the operation at this stage.
The exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, called for a new intifada, or uprising, against Israel, in response to the attacks.
The movement's Gaza leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said there would be no white flags and no surrender. "Palestine has never witnessed an uglier massacre," he said.
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 rocketsPalestine 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
Israel hit targets across Gaza, striking in the territory's main population centres, including Gaza City in the north and the southern towns of Khan Younis and Rafah. 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.
Hamas said all of its security compounds in Gaza were destroyed by the air strikes, which Israel said hit some 40 targets. 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.
Most of the dead and injured were reported to be in Gaza City. "Palestine has never witnessed an uglier massacre," Mr Haniya said.
A Hamas police spokesman, Islam Shahwan, said a police compound in Gaza City was hit as a graduation ceremony for new personnel was taking place. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the operation "may take some time" - but he pledged to avoid a humanitarian crisis.
The Hamas police headquarters in Gaza City was hit and the head of Gaza's police forces, Tawfik Jaber, was killed. Mr Barak says an aid and medical convoy will be allowed into Gaza in the wake of the bombings.
Hospitals were filled to overflowing and mosques issued urgent appeals for people to donate blood. 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.
Egypt opened its border crossing to the Gaza Strip at Rafah to treat some of those injured in the south of the territory. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Middle East envoy Tony Blair and the French EU presidency also called for a ceasefire.
In the West Bank, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas - whose Fatah faction was ousted from Gaza by Hamas in 2007 - condemned the attacks and called for restraint.
Palestinians staged demonstrations in the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Hebron, and there were some scuffles with Israeli troops there.
Restraint urged
Hamas vowed to carry out revenge attacks on Israel and fired Qassam rockets into Israeli territory as an immediate reply.
One Israeli was killed by a rocket strike on the town of Netivot, 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Gaza, doctors said.
The air strikes come amid rumours that an Israeli ground operation is imminent.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak defends Gaza strikeIsraeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak defends Gaza strike
Israeli media said on Saturday evening that Israeli troops were massing on the Gaza border.
US officials accused Hamas of having triggered the new bout of violence.
"The United States is deeply concerned about the escalating violence in Gaza," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement.
"We strongly condemn the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and hold Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire and for the renewal of violence there. The ceasefire must be restored immediately and fully respected."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also urged an immediate halt to the violence, condemning what he called Israel's "excessive use of force leading to the killing and injuring of civilians" and "the ongoing rocket attacks by Palestinian militants".
Calls for a ceasefire also came from Middle East envoy Tony Blair and the French EU presidency.
Election prelude
Palestinian militants frequently fire rockets against Israeli towns from inside the Gaza Strip; large numbers of rocket and mortar shells have been fired at Israel in recent days.
A resident describes the attacks in Gaza
The BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem says the timing of Israel's operation is significant, as Israeli politicians are keen to score points ahead of a general election in February.
It is the worst attack in Gaza since 1967 in terms of the number of Palestinian casualties, a senior analyst told the BBC in Jerusalem.
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.