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Casualties rise in Gaza offensive Casualties rise in Gaza offensive
(about 2 hours later)
Casualties have been pouring into over-stretched hospitals in the Gaza Strip as Israel presses on with its offensive against Palestinian militant groups.Casualties have been pouring into over-stretched hospitals in the Gaza Strip as Israel presses on with its offensive against Palestinian militant groups.
Palestinian medical officials say at least 90 people, including many civilians and 26 children, have died since Israel's ground assault began. Palestinian medical officials say at least 90 people, including many civilians and 26 children, have been killed since the ground assault began.
Israel says it is targeting militants continuing to fire rockets into Israel. There are currently heavy clashes on the northern outskirts of Gaza City.
Intense diplomatic efforts are under way to resolve the crisis, but Israel rejected calls for an immediate truce. Intense diplomatic efforts are under way to resolve the crisis, but Israel has rejected calls for a ceasefire.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is on a mission to the region, appealed for a halt to the violence to allow humanitarian aid through. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is on a mission to the region, has appealed for a halt to the violence to allow in humanitarian aid.
According to Palestinian medical sources, more than 500 people have been killed in Gaza and some 2,500 wounded since the Israeli military operation began 10 days ago. These figures cannot be independently verified. According to Palestinian medical sources, more than 500 people have been killed and some 2,500 wounded since the Israeli operation began 10 days ago. These figures cannot be independently verified.
Five Israelis have been killed. Five Israelis have been killed, including one soldier during the ground offensive.
'Mainly civilians''Mainly civilians'
There were reports of fierce fighting in northern Gaza as news began to emerge of the scale of the problems facing medical staff in the territory. There were reports of fierce fighting in northern Gaza as news began to emerge of the scale of the problems facing medical staff.
Map: Gaza incursion - Week TwoAnalysis: Israeli pride at a costIn pictures: Gaza offensiveBBC News in ArabicMap: Gaza incursion - Week TwoAnalysis: Israeli pride at a costIn pictures: Gaza offensiveBBC News in Arabic
Norwegian doctor Mads Gilbert, one of two foreign doctors working at Gaza's biggest hospital, al-Shifa, said they had received a "new wave" of very serious injuries on Monday.Norwegian doctor Mads Gilbert, one of two foreign doctors working at Gaza's biggest hospital, al-Shifa, said they had received a "new wave" of very serious injuries on Monday.
"We have many amputations, head injuries, and of course for a hospital in this situation... it's extremely difficult to handle," he told the BBC."We have many amputations, head injuries, and of course for a hospital in this situation... it's extremely difficult to handle," he told the BBC.
He warned that the hospital would be unable to operate much longer unless it received fresh medical supplies.He warned that the hospital would be unable to operate much longer unless it received fresh medical supplies.
"People are dying now because of lack of supplies. We have all operating rooms full. Yesterday we were operating on two patients in one operating room... This is a complete disaster"."People are dying now because of lack of supplies. We have all operating rooms full. Yesterday we were operating on two patients in one operating room... This is a complete disaster".
Israel has insisted that it is not targeting civilians and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields by operating in densely populated areas. Israel has insisted that it is not targeting civilians and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields by operating in populated areas.
But Dr Gilbert said the overwhelming majority of casualties he had treated were civilians.But Dr Gilbert said the overwhelming majority of casualties he had treated were civilians.
"Among all the hundreds we have seen so far, we have seen two fighters," he said. "Among all the hundreds we have seen so far, we have seen two fighters," he said, adding that women and children alone made up 25% of the death toll, and 45% of the wounded.
He said that women and children alone made up 25% of the death toll, and 45% of the wounded.
Civilians on the moveCivilians on the move
The Israeli army said it had hit 40 targets in the Gaza Strip on Monday, including several tunnels and the homes of a number of Hamas officials. The Israeli army said it had hit 40 targets in Gaza on Monday, including smuggling tunnels and the homes of Hamas officials.
One million people are without electricity. Crucially the hospitals in Gaza are running on emergency generators - this in my book amounts to a humanitarian crisis UN spokesman Christopher Gunness Fear for homes amid Gaza dangerAid worker diary: Part eightHamas set for bitter battleOne million people are without electricity. Crucially the hospitals in Gaza are running on emergency generators - this in my book amounts to a humanitarian crisis UN spokesman Christopher Gunness Fear for homes amid Gaza dangerAid worker diary: Part eightHamas set for bitter battle
But information about what is happening is limited as Israel has barred foreign reporters from entering Gaza.But information about what is happening is limited as Israel has barred foreign reporters from entering Gaza.
Fighting was reported around Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya, and Gaza city itself - a little further south - was said to have been encircled. After night fell on Monday, Israeli troops were reported to be battling Palestinian militants on the outskirts of the northern Shujaiya district of Gaza City.
The BBC's Hamada Abu Qammar in Gaza said residents on the edges of Gaza City were heading into the city centre seeking safe places away from the fighting. Hamas and Islamic Jihad said their fighters had engaged Israeli soldiers with machine guns and rockets. Residents reported hearing loud explosions and heavy gunfire.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said Hamas had suffered a "hard blow" but insisted the offensive in Gaza would continue. One report said Israeli forces had to use artillery and helicopter gunships to drive back the Palestinian fighters.
"We still haven't reached our objectives," Mr Barak told Israeli MPs. Elsewhere, Israeli tanks were moving towards the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to the Reuters news agency. Fighting was earlier witnessed around Beit Hanoun and the Jabaliya refugee camp.
The top Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Mahmud Zahar, told Palestinians in a televised address that they were headed for "victory" against Israel. An Israeli military spokesman said the assault was going according to plan
The BBC's Hamada Abu Qammar in Gaza City said residents on the outskirts were heading into the centre, seeking safe places away from the fighting.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said Hamas had suffered a "hard blow", but insisted the offensive would continue.
"We still haven't reached our objectives," he told Israeli MPs.
A senior Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud Zahhar, told Palestinians in a televised address that they were headed for "victory" against Israel.
Israelis "have legitimised the murder of their own children by killing the children of Palestine", he said.Israelis "have legitimised the murder of their own children by killing the children of Palestine", he said.
The Israeli army said Palestinian militants had fired 20 missiles into southern Israel on Monday.The Israeli army said Palestinian militants had fired 20 missiles into southern Israel on Monday.
Humanitarian crisisHumanitarian crisis
For the people of Gaza, living conditions are deteriorating sharply. Supplies of fuel, food, water, and wheat are said to be running desperately low.For the people of Gaza, living conditions are deteriorating sharply. Supplies of fuel, food, water, and wheat are said to be running desperately low.
Middle East envoy Tony Blair: 'We want an immediate ceasefire'Middle East envoy Tony Blair: 'We want an immediate ceasefire'
A spokesman for Unrwa, the UN aid agency for the Palestinians, said food was urgently needed and people were facing "serious hunger", with supplies for just 48 hours.A spokesman for Unrwa, the UN aid agency for the Palestinians, said food was urgently needed and people were facing "serious hunger", with supplies for just 48 hours.
"One million people are without electricity. Crucially the hospitals in Gaza are running on emergency generators. This in my book amounts to a humanitarian crisis," Christopher Gunness told the BBC."One million people are without electricity. Crucially the hospitals in Gaza are running on emergency generators. This in my book amounts to a humanitarian crisis," Christopher Gunness told the BBC.
Israel said it had allowed a convoy of 80 lorries carrying food and medicines through Gaza's southern frontier.Israel said it had allowed a convoy of 80 lorries carrying food and medicines through Gaza's southern frontier.
Away from the front line, diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting in the Gaza Strip have been moving into high gear.Away from the front line, diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting in the Gaza Strip have been moving into high gear.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy held talks with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank town of Ramallah at the start of a series of meetings across the Middle East.French President Nicolas Sarkozy held talks with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank town of Ramallah at the start of a series of meetings across the Middle East.
In remarks broadcast on French radio, he "condemned" the Israeli ground offensive but said Hamas had also "acted in an irresponsible and unforgivable manner" by ending a six-month ceasefire with Israel and resuming firing rockets. In remarks broadcast on French radio, he "condemned" the Israeli ground offensive, but said Hamas had also "acted in an irresponsible and unforgivable manner" by ending a six-month ceasefire with Israel and resuming firing rockets.
Decision of arms not diplomacyBrown urges end to Gaza violenceDecision of arms not diplomacyBrown urges end to Gaza violence
US President George W Bush also blamed the current situation on Hamas militants and said he understood "Israel's desire to protect itself".US President George W Bush also blamed the current situation on Hamas militants and said he understood "Israel's desire to protect itself".
An EU delegation held talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem, calling for a "cease-fire at the earliest possible moment".An EU delegation held talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem, calling for a "cease-fire at the earliest possible moment".
But Ms Livni appeared to rebuff the call, saying: "When Israel is being targeted, Israel is going to retaliate."But Ms Livni appeared to rebuff the call, saying: "When Israel is being targeted, Israel is going to retaliate."
"Israel is going to give an answer to it because this is an ongoing, long battle, war, against terror." At the UN in New York, Arab ministers are pushing for a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
At the United Nations in New York, Arab ministers are pushing for a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to attend a meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday to discuss the situation.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to attend a meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday to discuss the situation.
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