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| Israelis ponder ceasefire calls | Israelis ponder ceasefire calls |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Israel's cabinet is meeting to discuss proposals for an immediate suspension of air operations against Gaza. | Israel's cabinet is meeting to discuss proposals for an immediate suspension of air operations against Gaza. |
| Calls have come from Middle East peace-brokers including the US and EU foreign ministers. But Israeli leaders are reported to be split on the issue. | Calls have come from Middle East peace-brokers including the US and EU foreign ministers. But Israeli leaders are reported to be split on the issue. |
| A foreign ministry spokesman said a unilateral 48-hour halt was "unrealistic", as long as Hamas continued to fire at Israel. | A foreign ministry spokesman said a unilateral 48-hour halt was "unrealistic", as long as Hamas continued to fire at Israel. |
| Air strikes continued on Wednesday, and more Palestinian rockets hit Israel. | Air strikes continued on Wednesday, and more Palestinian rockets hit Israel. |
| The 48-hour ceasefire plan to allow aid into Gaza, proposed by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, was raised 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 during an Israeli leadership meeting late on Tuesday. |
| Reports of the discussions - involving Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his defence and foreign ministers - suggested any pause in fighting would be accompanied by a threat to send in ground troops if rocket fire into Israel continued. | Reports of the discussions - involving Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his defence and foreign ministers - suggested any pause in fighting would be accompanied by a threat to send in ground troops if rocket fire into Israel continued. |
| See detailed map of attacks | See detailed map of attacks |
| The Arab League is also due to meet in Cairo to discuss the crisis. | The Arab League is also due to meet in Cairo to discuss the crisis. |
| Extra reservists | Extra reservists |
| The ceasefire request is being discussed at a cabinet meeting, along with the possibility of widening and deepening this campaign, says the BBC's Mike Sergeant in Jerusalem. | The ceasefire request is being discussed at a cabinet meeting, along with the possibility of widening and deepening this campaign, says the BBC's Mike Sergeant in Jerusalem. |
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| Israel has continued to pound Gaza | Israel has continued to pound Gaza |
| An extra 2,500 reservists have been called up by the Israeli army and, on the frontier with Gaza, preparations continue for a possible Israeli 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 Israeli ground operation. |
| 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". |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Israel has warned it is ready for weeks of action to end the threat posed by rockets, one of which on Tuesday landed in Beersheba, 46 km (28 miles) from the Gaza Strip. | Israel has warned it is ready for weeks of action to end the threat posed by rockets, one of which on Tuesday landed in Beersheba, 46 km (28 miles) from the Gaza Strip. |
| 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, while humanitarian agencies say they are struggling to contend with both the air strikes and a lack of medical and food supplies. | The UN says at least 62 Palestinian civilians have died since Saturday, while humanitarian agencies say they are struggling to contend with both the air strikes and a lack of medical and food supplies. |
| Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is expected to travel to Paris on Thursday for talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. | Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is expected to travel to Paris on Thursday for talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. |
| Ground operations? | Ground operations? |
| The Quartet - which comprises the US, UN, EU and Russia - called for a ceasefire "that would be fully respected" and for all parties to address "the serious humanitarian and economic needs in Gaza", a UN spokeswoman said. In pictures: Day four of raidsTaking cover on Sderot front lineLong wait at Rafah crossing | The Quartet - which comprises the US, UN, EU and Russia - called for a ceasefire "that would be fully respected" and for all parties to address "the serious humanitarian and economic needs in Gaza", a UN spokeswoman said. In pictures: Day four of raidsTaking cover on Sderot front lineLong wait at Rafah crossing |
| The EU foreign ministers echoed that call following a meeting in the French capital, Paris. | The EU foreign ministers echoed that call following a meeting in the French capital, Paris. |
| A separate proposal from Egypt and a number of other Arab countries has called on Israel to reopen its border with Gaza. | A separate proposal from Egypt and a number of other Arab countries has called on Israel to reopen its border with Gaza. |
| The US - Israel's strongest ally - has called for a long-term solution beyond any immediate ceasefire. But the White House reiterated that 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 that the onus was on Hamas to act first to end the violence. |
| Mr Olmert said earlier that the air assault on Gaza was "the first in several stages" of operations against Hamas. | Mr Olmert said earlier that the air assault on Gaza was "the first in several stages" of operations against Hamas. |
| Israel has massed forces along the boundary with Gaza and has declared the area around it a "closed military zone". | Israel has massed forces along the boundary with Gaza and has declared the area around it a "closed military zone". |
| Correspondents say the move could be a prelude to ground operations, but could also be intended to build pressure on Hamas. | Correspondents say the move could be a prelude to ground operations, but could also be intended to build pressure on Hamas. |
| 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. |
| GAZA VIOLENCE 27-30 DECEMBER 1. Ashdod: First attack so far north, Sunday. Woman killed in second rocket attack, Tuesday 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 brothers reported killed in attack on Rafah, Sunday8. Khan Younis: Four members of Islamic Jihad and a child reported killed, Sunday. Security officer killed in air strike on Hamas police station, Tuesday 9. Deir al-Balah: Palestinians injured, houses and buildings destroyed, Sunday 10. Tel al-Hawa - Interior ministry and Islamic University badly damaged, Monday. At least three buildings in ministry compound hit, Tuesday11. Gaza City port: naval vessels targeted, Sunday 12. Shati refugee camp: Home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya targeted, Monday 13. Intelligence building attacked, Sunday14. Jebaliya refugee camp: several people killed in attack on mosque, Sunday 15. Beit Hanoun - two girls killed in air strike, Tuesday16. Israeli soldier killed at unspecified military base near Nahal Oz border crossing - five other soldiers wounded in same rocket attack, Monday night. | GAZA VIOLENCE 27-30 DECEMBER 1. Ashdod: First attack so far north, Sunday. Woman killed in second rocket attack, Tuesday 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 brothers reported killed in attack on Rafah, Sunday8. Khan Younis: Four members of Islamic Jihad and a child reported killed, Sunday. Security officer killed in air strike on Hamas police station, Tuesday 9. Deir al-Balah: Palestinians injured, houses and buildings destroyed, Sunday 10. Tel al-Hawa - Interior ministry and Islamic University badly damaged, Monday. At least three buildings in ministry compound hit, Tuesday11. Gaza City port: naval vessels targeted, Sunday 12. Shati refugee camp: Home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya targeted, Monday 13. Intelligence building attacked, Sunday14. Jebaliya refugee camp: several people killed in attack on mosque, Sunday 15. Beit Hanoun - two girls killed in air strike, Tuesday16. Israeli soldier killed at unspecified military base near Nahal Oz border crossing - five other soldiers wounded in same rocket attack, Monday night. |
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