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| Israel rejects Gaza truce calls | Israel rejects Gaza truce calls |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has rejected international calls for a 48-hour truce in the Gaza Strip to allow in more humanitarian aid. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has rejected international calls for a 48-hour truce in the Gaza Strip to allow in more humanitarian aid. |
| He said conditions were not right for a ceasefire, but did not rule one out if rocket fire on Israel from Gaza halted. | |
| Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas threatened to stop peace talks with the Israelis if the strikes continued. | |
| Israeli air strikes on Gaza have continued for a fifth day, while more Hamas rockets have landed in 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 |
| In the last five days, Israeli jets and attack helicopters have hit Hamas targets, including security compounds, government buildings, smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt and homes belonging to militant leaders. | In the last five days, Israeli jets and attack helicopters have hit Hamas targets, including security compounds, government buildings, smuggling tunnels under the border with Egypt and homes belonging to militant leaders. |
| Palestinian officials say about 391 Palestinians have died in the Israeli air strikes; four Israelis have been killed by rockets fired from Gaza, which is under Hamas control. | Palestinian officials say about 391 Palestinians have died in the Israeli air strikes; four Israelis have been killed by rockets fired from Gaza, which is under Hamas control. |
| After meeting his cabinet, Prime Minister Olmert said conditions were not right for a ceasefire, but he did not rule one out in the future. | After meeting his cabinet, Prime Minister Olmert said conditions were not right for a ceasefire, but he did not rule one out in the future. |
| "If conditions will ripen, and we think there can be a diplomatic solution that will ensure a better security reality in the south, we will consider it. But at the moment, it's not there," he was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. | "If conditions will ripen, and we think there can be a diplomatic solution that will ensure a better security reality in the south, we will consider it. But at the moment, it's not there," he was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. |
| Any ceasefire with Hamas had to be permanent, he said, adding that there was international consensus that Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel had to stop. | Any ceasefire with Hamas had to be permanent, he said, adding that there was international consensus that Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel had to stop. |
| In particular the hospitals have been depleted and stretched to the maximum because of the closure imposed Iyad NasrRed Cross spokesman in Gaza Gaza hospitals under huge pressureAid worker diary: Part four | |
| Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, said he "would not hesitate to stop" peace talks with the Israelis "if they go against our interests and offer a support to aggression". | |
| He called the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip "barbaric and criminal aggression". | |
| The Fatah faction, headed by Mr Abbas, lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas in 2007. | |
| International appeals | International appeals |
| The 48-hour ceasefire plan to allow more aid into Gaza, was proposed by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. | The 48-hour ceasefire plan to allow more aid into Gaza, was proposed by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. |
| The Hamas PM's offices were again attacked early on Wednesday | The Hamas PM's offices were again attacked early on Wednesday |
| Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha told AFP news agency that his group was open to any ceasefire propositions as long as they meant an end to the air strikes and a lifting of the Israeli blockade of Gaza. | |
| US President George W Bush repeated earlier statements that Hamas should take the first step to ending hostilities by halting rocket fire into Israel. | |
| "I think President Bush thinks that Hamas needs to stop firing rockets, and that is what will be the first steps in a ceasefire," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe. | |
| He added that Mr Bush had been assured by Mr Olmert that only Hamas sites in Gaza were being targeted and that "appropriate steps" to avoid civilian casualties were being taken. | |
| 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. |
| Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo called on the Palestinian factions to put aside their differences to speak with one voice. | |
| Hospitals depleted | Hospitals depleted |
| On Wednesday, Israeli missiles again pounded tunnels along Gaza's Egyptian frontier, as well as an office of former Prime Minister Ismail Haniya and other buildings linked to his Hamas movement. | On Wednesday, Israeli missiles again pounded tunnels along Gaza's Egyptian frontier, as well as an office of former Prime Minister Ismail Haniya 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 women and children have died since Saturday. Palestinian medical officials say more than 1,700 people have been injured, overwhelming Gaza's hospitals. | |
| Red Cross spokesman in Gaza Iyad Nasr said Gaza badly needed more supplies. | Red Cross spokesman in Gaza Iyad Nasr said Gaza badly needed more supplies. |
| "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. |
| Israel said it was allowing 106 lorries carrying humanitarian aid - including medical supplies - from a variety of international organisations into Gaza on Wednesday. | Israel said it was allowing 106 lorries carrying humanitarian aid - including medical supplies - from a variety of international organisations into Gaza on Wednesday. |
| 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. |