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| Israel rejects Gaza truce calls | Israel rejects Gaza truce calls |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Israel has rejected international calls for a 48-hour truce in the Gaza Strip to allow in humanitarian aid, says a government spokesman. | Israel has rejected international calls for a 48-hour truce in the Gaza Strip to allow in humanitarian aid, says a government spokesman. |
| Mark Regev said that Israel was not looking for a "band aid", or something that would expire a month from now. But he said dialogue would continue. | Mark Regev said that Israel was not looking for a "band aid", or something that would expire a month from now. But he said dialogue would continue. |
| Israel launched air strikes on Gaza for a fifth day, and more Hamas rockets landed in southern Israel. | Israel launched air strikes on Gaza for a fifth day, and more Hamas rockets landed in southern Israel. |
| The town of Beersheba was hit, the deepest penetration by rockets so far. | The town of Beersheba was hit, the deepest penetration by rockets so far. |
| Map: Gaza and Israel violenceIn pictures: Day five of strikesGaza rockets hit deep into IsraelTaking cover on Sderot front line | Map: Gaza and Israel violenceIn pictures: Day five of strikesGaza rockets hit deep into IsraelTaking cover on Sderot front line |
| A foreign ministry spokesman earlier said a unilateral 48-hour halt was "unrealistic", as long as Hamas continued to fire at Israel. | A foreign ministry spokesman earlier said a unilateral 48-hour halt was "unrealistic", as long as Hamas continued to fire at Israel. |
| A Hamas spokesman quoted by AFP news agency criticised the current international truce proposals "put the executioner and victim on equal footing." | A Hamas spokesman quoted by AFP news agency criticised the current international truce proposals "put the executioner and victim on equal footing." |
| Fawzi Barhum said international and Arab efforts had to focus on "ending this aggression". | Fawzi Barhum said international and Arab efforts had to focus on "ending this aggression". |
| A European Union statement had called for an "unconditional" halt to Hamas rocket attacks. | A European Union statement had called for an "unconditional" halt to Hamas rocket attacks. |
| The Arab League is also meeting in Cairo to discuss the crisis. | The Arab League is also meeting in Cairo to discuss the crisis. |
| Palestinian officials say about 374 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes since Saturday; four Israelis have been killed by rockets fired from Gaza, which is under Hamas control. | Palestinian officials say about 374 Palestinians have died in Israeli air strikes since Saturday; four Israelis have been killed by rockets fired from Gaza, which is under Hamas control. |
| Hospitals depleted | Hospitals depleted |
| The 48-hour ceasefire plan to allow aid into Gaza, proposed by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, was raised - and rejected - during an Israeli leadership meeting late on Tuesday. | The 48-hour ceasefire plan to allow aid into Gaza, proposed by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, was raised - and rejected - during an Israeli leadership meeting late on Tuesday. |
| The Hamas PM's offices were again attacked early on Wednesday | The Hamas PM's offices were again attacked early on Wednesday |
| The ceasefire request was discussed at a cabinet meeting, along with the possibility of widening and deepening this campaign. | |
| Mark Regev, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said that dialogue with the international community would continue. | Mark Regev, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said that dialogue with the international community would continue. |
| On Wednesday, Israeli missiles pounded tunnels along Gaza's Egyptian frontier, as well as an office of former Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and other buildings linked to his Hamas movement. | On Wednesday, Israeli missiles pounded tunnels along Gaza's Egyptian frontier, as well as an office of former Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and other buildings linked to his Hamas movement. |
| Rockets landed in and around the southern Israeli town of Beersheba, about 40 km (24 miles) from Gaza on Wednesday and Tuesday. | Rockets landed in and around the southern Israeli town of Beersheba, about 40 km (24 miles) from Gaza on Wednesday and Tuesday. |
| Although no serious casualties were reported, this is the deepest that Palestinian rockets have penetrated inside Israel - something that will only increase Israeli public support for continued military action, observers say.Advertisement | Although no serious casualties were reported, this is the deepest that Palestinian rockets have penetrated inside Israel - something that will only increase Israeli public support for continued military action, observers say.Advertisement |
| Hamas rocket reaches Beersheba | Hamas rocket reaches Beersheba |
| A police spokesman said 860,000 Israelis were now in range of Palestinian rockets. | A police spokesman said 860,000 Israelis were now in range of Palestinian rockets. |
| The UN says at least 62 Palestinian civilians have died since Saturday. | The UN says at least 62 Palestinian civilians have died since Saturday. |
| Red Cross spokesman in Gaza Iyad Nasr said Gaza badly needed more supplies bringing in. | Red Cross spokesman in Gaza Iyad Nasr said Gaza badly needed more supplies bringing in. |
| "In particular the hospitals have been depleted and stretched to the maximum because of the closure imposed," he told the BBC. | "In particular the hospitals have been depleted and stretched to the maximum because of the closure imposed," he told the BBC. |
| A spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency - the largest aid agency operating in Gaza - says it will resume food distribution on Thursday after a two-week suspension because of a shortage of supplies. | A spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency - the largest aid agency operating in Gaza - says it will resume food distribution on Thursday after a two-week suspension because of a shortage of supplies. |
| Eighty-four UNRWA trucks carrying mostly food and some medicine are due to go into Gaza on Wednesday. | Eighty-four UNRWA trucks carrying mostly food and some medicine are due to go into Gaza on Wednesday. |
| Closed military zone | Closed military zone |
| The US - Israel's strongest ally - has called for a long-term solution beyond any immediate ceasefire. But the White House reiterated the onus was on Hamas to act first to end the violence. | The US - Israel's strongest ally - has called for a long-term solution beyond any immediate ceasefire. But the White House reiterated the onus was on Hamas to act first to end the violence. |
| It is not known exactly what rockets Hamas and other groups in Gaza haveIsrael says Hamas used the six-month truce to boost its arsenal through smuggling tunnels Grad-style missiles have reached Ashkelon since 2006 Recent strikes in Ashdod could be Iranian-made Oghab, Fajr-3 or Ra'ad missiles | It is not known exactly what rockets Hamas and other groups in Gaza haveIsrael says Hamas used the six-month truce to boost its arsenal through smuggling tunnels Grad-style missiles have reached Ashkelon since 2006 Recent strikes in Ashdod could be Iranian-made Oghab, Fajr-3 or Ra'ad missiles |
| An extra 2,500 reservists have been called up by the Israeli army and, on the frontier with Gaza, preparations continue for a possible ground operation. | An extra 2,500 reservists have been called up by the Israeli army and, on the frontier with Gaza, preparations continue for a possible ground operation. |
| Israel has massed forces along the boundary and has declared the area around it a "closed military zone". | Israel has massed forces along the boundary and has declared the area around it a "closed military zone". |
| Correspondents say this could be a prelude to ground operations, but could also be intended to build pressure on Hamas. | Correspondents say this could be a prelude to ground operations, but could also be intended to build pressure on Hamas. |
| A statement by Hamas has warned any invasion would see "the children of Gaza collecting the body parts of Israeli soldiers and the ruins of tanks". | A statement by Hamas has warned any invasion would see "the children of Gaza collecting the body parts of Israeli soldiers and the ruins of tanks". |
| The Israeli air strikes began less than a week after the expiry of a six-month-long ceasefire deal with Hamas. | The Israeli air strikes began less than a week after the expiry of a six-month-long ceasefire deal with Hamas. |
| Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but has kept tight control over access in and out of Gaza and its airspace. | Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but has kept tight control over access in and out of Gaza and its airspace. |