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| Israel vows war on Hamas in Gaza | Israel vows war on Hamas in Gaza |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Top Israeli officials have vowed to continue attacks on militant group Hamas, as Israeli air strikes pounded the Gaza Strip for a third day. | Top Israeli officials have vowed to continue attacks on militant group Hamas, as Israeli air strikes pounded the Gaza Strip for a third day. |
| Israel was fighting a "war to the bitter end" against Hamas, its defence chief said. A top army official said no Hamas buildings would be left standing. | Israel was fighting a "war to the bitter end" against Hamas, its defence chief said. A top army official said no Hamas buildings would be left standing. |
| About 320 Palestinians have died since Saturday, the UN says. A second Israeli has been killed by a rocket. | About 320 Palestinians have died since Saturday, the UN says. A second Israeli has been killed by a rocket. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for an immediate ceasefire | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for an immediate ceasefire |
| Mr Ban said he was "deeply alarmed" by the escalation of violence in Gaza. While recognising Israel's right to defend itself from rocket attacks, he condemned its "excessive use of force". | Mr Ban said he was "deeply alarmed" by the escalation of violence in Gaza. While recognising Israel's right to defend itself from rocket attacks, he condemned its "excessive use of force". |
| Israel has massed forces along the border with Gaza and has declared the area around it a "closed military zone". GAZA CAMPAIGN DEATHS 320 - Official Gaza toll (source: UN)62 civilians in Gaza (source: UN) 2 civilians in Israel (source: Israel police) href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7803598.stm">West Bank anger at Gaza strikes class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7802477.stm">Israel looks for knockout blowIn pictures: Third day of raids | |
| Correspondents say the move - in addition to the call-up of thousands of reservists - could be a prelude to ground operations, but could also be intended to build pressure on Hamas. | Correspondents say the move - in addition to the call-up of thousands of reservists - could be a prelude to ground operations, but could also be intended to build pressure on Hamas. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| • The Red Cross described the situation in Gaza's hospitals as chaotic, with medical teams "stretched to the limit" | • The Red Cross described the situation in Gaza's hospitals as chaotic, with medical teams "stretched to the limit" |
| • A small number of wounded Palestinians have begun passing through the Rafah crossing into Egypt for treatment; Trucks laden with medical aid have been permitted to cross into Gaza | • A small number of wounded Palestinians have begun passing through the Rafah crossing into Egypt for treatment; Trucks laden with medical aid have been permitted to cross into Gaza |
| 'Topple Hamas' | 'Topple Hamas' |
| Dozens of centres of Hamas strength, including security compounds, government offices and tunnels into Egypt, have been hit since Israel started its massive bombing campaign on Saturday morning. See detailed map of attacks | Dozens of centres of Hamas strength, including security compounds, government offices and tunnels into Egypt, have been hit since Israel started its massive bombing campaign on Saturday morning. See detailed map of attacks |
| Early on Monday, raids damaged both the interior ministry and a science building at the Islamic University in Gaza, from which many top Hamas officials graduated. | Early on Monday, raids damaged both the interior ministry and a science building at the Islamic University in Gaza, from which many top Hamas officials graduated. |
| Later strikes hit the home of a senior Hamas commander, a car carrying gas cylinders and a house in the Jabaliya refugee camp, reports said. Israelis in nearby towns have faced an escalated militant rocket threat Grief and fear in GazaAid worker diary: Gaza raids Rocket attacks plague Israeli towns | Later strikes hit the home of a senior Hamas commander, a car carrying gas cylinders and a house in the Jabaliya refugee camp, reports said. Israelis in nearby towns have faced an escalated militant rocket threat Grief and fear in GazaAid worker diary: Gaza raids Rocket attacks plague Israeli towns |
| UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said his latest information was that about 320 Palestinians had been killed and 1,400 injured. | UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said his latest information was that about 320 Palestinians had been killed and 1,400 injured. |
| "Sixty-two of those killed, we believe... are civilian casualties," he told a news conference. | "Sixty-two of those killed, we believe... are civilian casualties," he told a news conference. |
| "That simply encompasses those who are women and children. It does not include any civilian casualties who are men - even though we know that there have been some civilian men killed as well." | "That simply encompasses those who are women and children. It does not include any civilian casualties who are men - even though we know that there have been some civilian men killed as well." |
| Doctors in Gaza say they are struggling to treat hundreds of injured and lack essential medical supplies. | Doctors in Gaza say they are struggling to treat hundreds of injured and lack essential medical supplies. |
| One doctor told the BBC that nearly all the casualties he had seen overnight and on Monday had been civilians. | One doctor told the BBC that nearly all the casualties he had seen overnight and on Monday had been civilians. |
| The latest fatality in Israel was reported to be a labourer at a building site in the city of Ashkelon, that was hit by a medium-range Grad missile. Three people were reported seriously wounded. | The latest fatality in Israel was reported to be a labourer at a building site in the city of Ashkelon, that was hit by a medium-range Grad missile. Three people were reported seriously wounded. |
| Defence Minister Ehud Barak said Israel was not fighting the residents of Gaza, but wanted to deal Hamas a "severe blow". The Israeli operation would be "widened and deepened as needed", he said. | Defence Minister Ehud Barak said Israel was not fighting the residents of Gaza, but wanted to deal Hamas a "severe blow". The Israeli operation would be "widened and deepened as needed", he said. |
| The army's deputy chief, meanwhile, said that there would "not be a single Hamas building left standing in Gaza" after the operation. | The army's deputy chief, meanwhile, said that there would "not be a single Hamas building left standing in Gaza" after the operation. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon went further. "The goal of the operation is to topple Hamas," he said. | Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon went further. "The goal of the operation is to topple Hamas," he said. |
| 'Durable ceasefire' | 'Durable ceasefire' |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for "an immediate stop to all acts of violence", his spokeswoman said. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for "an immediate stop to all acts of violence", his spokeswoman said. |
| The US - Israel's strongest ally - says the onus is on Hamas to end the violence and commit itself to a truce. | The US - Israel's strongest ally - says the onus is on Hamas to end the violence and commit itself to a truce. |
| "In order for the violence to stop, Hamas must stop firing rockets into Israel and agree to respect a sustainable and durable ceasefire," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. | "In order for the violence to stop, Hamas must stop firing rockets into Israel and agree to respect a sustainable and durable ceasefire," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. |
| But there have been angry protests against the Israeli action in many cities across the Arab world. In Lebanon, tens of thousands of people took part in a demonstration in the capital, Beirut. | But there have been angry protests against the Israeli action in many cities across the Arab world. In Lebanon, tens of thousands of people took part in a demonstration in the capital, Beirut. |
| The strikes began less than a week after the expiry of a six-month-long ceasefire deal with Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007. | The strikes began less than a week after the expiry of a six-month-long ceasefire deal with Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007. |
| Analysts said Saturday was the single deadliest day in Gaza since Israel's occupation of the territory in 1967, although no independent confirmation is available of the numbers killed. | Analysts said Saturday was the single deadliest day in Gaza since Israel's occupation of the territory in 1967, although no independent confirmation is available of the numbers killed. |
| The exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, has called for a new intifada, or uprising, against Israel, while the movement's Gaza leader, Ismail Haniya, called the attack an "ugly massacre". | The exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, has called for a new intifada, or uprising, against Israel, while the movement's Gaza leader, Ismail Haniya, called the attack an "ugly massacre". |
| From 1967, Israel's military occupied the Gaza Strip and Jewish settlers built communities within the territory. Israel withdrew in 2005 but has kept tight control over access in and out of Gaza and its airspace. | From 1967, Israel's military occupied the Gaza Strip and Jewish settlers built communities within the territory. Israel withdrew in 2005 but has kept tight control over access in and out of Gaza and its airspace. |
| GAZA VIOLENCE 27-29 DECEMBER 1. Ashdod: First attack so far north, Sunday 2. Ashkelon: One man killed, several injured in rocket attack, Monday3. Sderot: rocket attacks4. Nevitot: One man killed, several injured in rocket attack, Saturday5. Civilian family reported killed in attack on Yabna refugee camp, Sunday 6. Israeli warplanes strike tunnels under Gaza/Egypt border, Sunday7. Three young brothers reported killed in attack on Rafah, Sunday8. Khan Younis: Four members of Islamic Jihad and a child reported killed, Sunday 9. Deir al-Balah: Palestinians injured, houses and buildings destroyed, Sunday 10. Interior ministry and Islamic University badly damaged, Monday11. Gaza City port: naval vessels targeted, Sunday 12. Shati refugee camp: Home of Hamas leader Ismail Hanniyeh targeted, Monday 13. Intelligence building attacked, Sunday14. Jebaliya refugee camp: several people killed in attack on mosque, Sunday | GAZA VIOLENCE 27-29 DECEMBER 1. Ashdod: First attack so far north, Sunday 2. Ashkelon: One man killed, several injured in rocket attack, Monday3. Sderot: rocket attacks4. Nevitot: One man killed, several injured in rocket attack, Saturday5. Civilian family reported killed in attack on Yabna refugee camp, Sunday 6. Israeli warplanes strike tunnels under Gaza/Egypt border, Sunday7. Three young brothers reported killed in attack on Rafah, Sunday8. Khan Younis: Four members of Islamic Jihad and a child reported killed, Sunday 9. Deir al-Balah: Palestinians injured, houses and buildings destroyed, Sunday 10. Interior ministry and Islamic University badly damaged, Monday11. Gaza City port: naval vessels targeted, Sunday 12. Shati refugee camp: Home of Hamas leader Ismail Hanniyeh targeted, Monday 13. Intelligence building attacked, Sunday14. Jebaliya refugee camp: several people killed in attack on mosque, Sunday |
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