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Israel vows no let-up over Gaza Israel vows no let-up over Gaza
(10 minutes later)
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has said Palestinian militant group Hamas had sustained a "hard blow", but the offensive in Gaza would continue. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak says Palestinian militant group Hamas has suffered a "hard blow", but insists the offensive in Gaza will continue.
"We still haven't reached our objectives," Mr Barak told Israeli MPs."We still haven't reached our objectives," Mr Barak told Israeli MPs.
Israel carried out 30 air strikes overnight, with heavy clashes reported east of Gaza City. Palestinian sources say a family of seven were killed. Israel carried out 30 air strikes overnight, with heavy clashes reported east of Gaza City. Palestinian sources say a family of seven was killed.
A top Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud Zahhar, said the Islamists were heading for "victory" against Israel.A top Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud Zahhar, said the Islamists were heading for "victory" against Israel.
Intense diplomatic efforts are under way to try to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, with separate missions to the Middle East being led by the French president, and a high-level EU team.Intense diplomatic efforts are under way to try to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, with separate missions to the Middle East being led by the French president, and a high-level EU team.
Analysis: Israeli pride at a costIn pictures: Gaza ground offensiveMap: Gaza incursion - Week TwoGaza voices: Living with conflict Palestinian medical sources say the death toll stands at more than 500, with some 2,500 people wounded. These figures cannot be independently verified. Analysis: Israeli pride at a costIn pictures: Gaza ground offensiveMap: Gaza incursion - Week TwoGaza voices: Living with conflict Palestinian medical sources say the numbers of people killed in Gaza now stands at more than 500, with some 2,500 others wounded. These figures cannot be independently verified.
Five Israelis have been killed in Palestinian militant rocket attacks since the start of the Israeli incursion, which is now in its 10th day. Five Israelis have been killed by Palestinian militant fire since the start of Israel's military operation, which is now in its 10th day.
Ehud Barak said the offensive would continue until "peace and tranquility" was secured for Israeli civilians. Speaking to MPs, Mr Barak said the offensive would continue until "peace and tranquillity" was secured for Israeli civilians, referring to Israeli towns that have come under rocket attacks by militants.
"The fundamental objective is to change the reality of security for the south," Mr Barak said, referring to Israeli towns that have come under Palestinian rocket attack from Gaza. Speaking on Hamas-run al-Aqsa TV, Mahmoud Zahhar praised those fighting for Hamas and hinted that Palestinian militants would try to target more Israeli civilians.
Mr Zahhar praised Hamas fighters and urged them to "crush your enemy", in a speech aired on Hamas-run al-Aqsa TV. Rocket attacks by Palestinian militants dwindled overnight, with just five missiles being fired.
He also hinted that Palestinian militants would try to target more Israeli civilians, saying Israelis had "legitimised the killing of their people all over the world when they killed our people". Israel said it carried out 30 air strikes overnight on Sunday. Heavy clashes were reported east of Gaza City, and gunfire to the north.
Israeli sources say about 4,000 infantry are inside Gaza, backed by tanks. Information about what is happening is limited, as Israel has barred foreign reporters from entering the territory.
Palestinian hospital sources said at least 23 civilians were killed in the latest attacks.
One resident of a refugee camp in the Gaza beach area, Abu Aisha, told the BBC he lost several members of his family in an Israeli attack.
"The attack resulted in the death of my brother, his two wives and four children.
"We took out three bodies and the rest we could not find. There are four or five bodies under the rubble, and we cannot take them out."
Shuttle diplomacyShuttle diplomacy
Diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting in the Gaza Strip are moving into high gear. Away from the frontline, diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting in the Gaza Strip are moving into high gear.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be shuttling across the Middle East, taking in Egypt - which mediated a recent six-month truce between Hamas and Israel - as well as Jerusalem, the Palestinian West Bank town of Ramallah and Syria. class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7810368.stm">Decision of arms not diplomacy class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7810260.stm">Brown urges end to Gaza violence class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7802295.stm">Aid worker diary: Part eight class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7810506.stm">Hamas set for bitter battle French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be shuttling across the Middle East, taking in Egypt - which mediated a recent six-month truce between Hamas and Israel - as well as Jerusalem, the Palestinian West Bank town of Ramallah and Syria.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7810368.stm">Decision of arms not diplomacy class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7810260.stm">Brown urges end to Gaza violence class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7802295.stm">Aid worker diary: Part eight class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7810506.stm">Hamas set for bitter battle Mr Sarkozy's Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, is part of an EU delegation, which has met Egyptian President Mubarak in the Red Sea resort of Sharm al Sheikh. On Monday morning an EU delegation met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana said that Egypt could play a vital role in easing the conflict in Gaza. Following the talks, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Egypt could play a "fundamental" role in bringing about a ceasefire in Gaza.
"We would like very much to obtain a ceasefire - the sooner the better... The co-operation with Egypt is going to be fundamental."
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said it was vital to get food and medical supplies into Gaza to ensure hospitals were able to function.EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said it was vital to get food and medical supplies into Gaza to ensure hospitals were able to function.
She said: "We know fuel, food, water, wheat - all that is missing. We want the hospitals to work, and indeed, for that we know that politically to get a ceasefire as quickly as possible."She said: "We know fuel, food, water, wheat - all that is missing. We want the hospitals to work, and indeed, for that we know that politically to get a ceasefire as quickly as possible."
Israel has said it will allow more aid into Gaza later, and that 80 trucks would cross from Israel carrying food and medicines.Israel has said it will allow more aid into Gaza later, and that 80 trucks would cross from Israel carrying food and medicines.


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