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| Israeli troops clash with Hamas | Israeli troops clash with Hamas |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Israeli ground forces are engaging with Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip, after Israel stepped up its operation to try to halt rocket attacks by militants. | Israeli ground forces are engaging with Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip, after Israel stepped up its operation to try to halt rocket attacks by militants. |
| Clashes were reported in Gaza City, the northern town of Beit Lahiya and the Jabaliya refugee camp. Both sides have reported casualties in the fighting. | Clashes were reported in Gaza City, the northern town of Beit Lahiya and the Jabaliya refugee camp. Both sides have reported casualties in the fighting. |
| The UN secretary general has called for an immediate halt to operations. | The UN secretary general has called for an immediate halt to operations. |
| But an emergency Security Council meeting failed to agree a united approach to the Gaza conflict. | But an emergency Security Council meeting failed to agree a united approach to the Gaza conflict. |
| Diplomatic sources said it was the United States that blocked an agreement. US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff suggested that an official statement that criticised both Israel and Hamas would not have been helpful. | Diplomatic sources said it was the United States that blocked an agreement. US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff suggested that an official statement that criticised both Israel and Hamas would not have been helpful. |
| In pictures: New phase beginsAid worker diary: Part sevenFormidable force fights Hamas | |
| As dawn broke on Sunday, a large plume of black smoke could be seen rising from part of the northern part of the Gaza Strip. | As dawn broke on Sunday, a large plume of black smoke could be seen rising from part of the northern part of the Gaza Strip. |
| Correspondents say there was a constant sound of machine-gun fire and explosions, as Israeli forces pounded Gaza from land and sea. The shelling went on throughout the night. | Correspondents say there was a constant sound of machine-gun fire and explosions, as Israeli forces pounded Gaza from land and sea. The shelling went on throughout the night. |
| Witnesses say the attack began when Israeli military convoys supported by attack helicopters crossed into northern Gaza at four separate points after nightfall on Saturday. | Witnesses say the attack began when Israeli military convoys supported by attack helicopters crossed into northern Gaza at four separate points after nightfall on Saturday. |
| Advancing Israeli tanks were reported to be in battles around Gaza City and the northern towns of Beit Lahiya and Jabaliya, the AFP news agency reported. Hamas fighters replied with mortars and rockets, witnesses said. | Advancing Israeli tanks were reported to be in battles around Gaza City and the northern towns of Beit Lahiya and Jabaliya, the AFP news agency reported. Hamas fighters replied with mortars and rockets, witnesses said. |
| According to witnesses, Israeli troops have largely remained in the open and not entered urban areas. | |
| The Israeli military said 40 sites had been targeted, including tunnels used for smuggling, weapons depots and rocket launch sites. | The Israeli military said 40 sites had been targeted, including tunnels used for smuggling, weapons depots and rocket launch sites. |
| Sources inside Gaza say at least 20 people were killed in overnight fighting, several of them civilians, and dozens were injured. | |
| The Israeli army said 30 of its soldiers had been wounded in the ground offensive, two of them seriously. | The Israeli army said 30 of its soldiers had been wounded in the ground offensive, two of them seriously. |
| As the operation went on during the night, nine missiles were fired into Israel from Gaza, targeting Sderot, Netivot and other communities close to the border. There were no reports of damage or casualties. | As the operation went on during the night, nine missiles were fired into Israel from Gaza, targeting Sderot, Netivot and other communities close to the border. There were no reports of damage or casualties. |
| 'Limited' operation | 'Limited' operation |
| An Israeli military spokeswoman said the objective of the ground operation was "to destroy the Hamas terror infrastructure in the area of operations". | An Israeli military spokeswoman said the objective of the ground operation was "to destroy the Hamas terror infrastructure in the area of operations". |
| href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7805808.stm">Timeline: Week of attacks class="" href="either url here">In pictures: Protests worldwideUK protests over Gaza air strikesGaza voices: Family fears | |
| "We are going to take some of the launch areas used by Hamas," Maj Avital Leibovitch told reporters. | "We are going to take some of the launch areas used by Hamas," Maj Avital Leibovitch told reporters. |
| Israeli officials have described the offensive as a "limited" operation. | Israeli officials have described the offensive as a "limited" operation. |
| The move into Gaza had been preceded by some of the heaviest Israeli air and artillery attacks on the territory in more than a week of bombardment. | The move into Gaza had been preceded by some of the heaviest Israeli air and artillery attacks on the territory in more than a week of bombardment. |
| Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the ground campaign against Hamas "will not be easy or short, but we are determined". | Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the ground campaign against Hamas "will not be easy or short, but we are determined". |
| "Our aim is to force Hamas to stop its hostile activities against Israel and Israelis from Gaza, and to bring about a significant change in the situation in the southern part of Israel," he told a news conference. | "Our aim is to force Hamas to stop its hostile activities against Israel and Israelis from Gaza, and to bring about a significant change in the situation in the southern part of Israel," he told a news conference. |
| The BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem says this is probably just the first wave of the assault, since there are said to be some 10,000 Israeli troops and hundreds of tanks massed on the border with Gaza. | The BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem says this is probably just the first wave of the assault, since there are said to be some 10,000 Israeli troops and hundreds of tanks massed on the border with Gaza. |
| The government has also announced the urgent call-up of "tens of thousands" of extra military reservists. | The government has also announced the urgent call-up of "tens of thousands" of extra military reservists. |
| Just before the ground offensive began, Hamas issued a statement promising that Palestinian children would be picking over the ruins of Israeli tanks and the body parts of Israeli soldiers. | Just before the ground offensive began, Hamas issued a statement promising that Palestinian children would be picking over the ruins of Israeli tanks and the body parts of Israeli soldiers. |
| A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the offensive as "a vicious aggression". | A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the offensive as "a vicious aggression". |
| Our correspondent says this promises to be a very bloody encounter. | Our correspondent says this promises to be a very bloody encounter. |
| 'General convergence' | 'General convergence' |
| The UN session was convened a few hours after Israeli forces entered Gaza. | The UN session was convened a few hours after Israeli forces entered Gaza. |
| Talks lasted more than three hours and afterwards the Security Council's current president - France's Jean-Maurice Ripert - said there was a "general convergence" among some members, but he would not elaborate. | Talks lasted more than three hours and afterwards the Security Council's current president - France's Jean-Maurice Ripert - said there was a "general convergence" among some members, but he would not elaborate. |
| UN fails to reach Gaza consensus | UN fails to reach Gaza consensus |
| The UK ambassador to the UN, Sir John Sawers, said members had got close to an agreement. He added it was disappointing there could not be a firm statement from the UN as the situation on the ground escalates. | The UK ambassador to the UN, Sir John Sawers, said members had got close to an agreement. He added it was disappointing there could not be a firm statement from the UN as the situation on the ground escalates. |
| Israeli warplanes and naval vessels have carried out more than 800 strikes on the Gaza Strip since the offensive started eight days ago, including 40 on Saturday. | Israeli warplanes and naval vessels have carried out more than 800 strikes on the Gaza Strip since the offensive started eight days ago, including 40 on Saturday. |
| The UN has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis, and believes 25% of more than 460 Palestinians killed by Israel so far were civilians. Israel says about 80% of those killed were Hamas militants. Four Israelis have been killed by rocket fire from Gaza. | The UN has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis, and believes 25% of more than 460 Palestinians killed by Israel so far were civilians. Israel says about 80% of those killed were Hamas militants. Four Israelis have been killed by rocket fire from Gaza. |
| Earlier on Saturday, at least 13 people were killed in one Israeli raid when a missile struck a crowded mosque in Beit Lahiya, Palestinian medics said. | Earlier on Saturday, at least 13 people were killed in one Israeli raid when a missile struck a crowded mosque in Beit Lahiya, Palestinian medics said. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Violence brings only more violence. If the killing doesn't stop there would be no truce. Nour Hafez, Kuwait Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Violence brings only more violence. If the killing doesn't stop there would be no truce. Nour Hafez, Kuwait Send us your comments |
| Correspondents say Israel has accused Hamas of using mosques to hide weapons and ammunition, but this is the first time a mosque has been hit at prayer time. | Correspondents say Israel has accused Hamas of using mosques to hide weapons and ammunition, but this is the first time a mosque has been hit at prayer time. |
| Around the world, demonstrations were held against Israel's military operations. | Around the world, demonstrations were held against Israel's military operations. |
| The biggest was in Paris, drawing more than 20,000 people. About 10,000 people protested in London. | The biggest was in Paris, drawing more than 20,000 people. About 10,000 people protested in London. |
| In Israel itself, tens of thousands of Israeli Arabs gathered in the town of Sakhnin to protest against their government's actions. Peace groups held a demonstration in Tel Aviv. | In Israel itself, tens of thousands of Israeli Arabs gathered in the town of Sakhnin to protest against their government's actions. Peace groups held a demonstration in Tel Aviv. |