This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7812286.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Casualties rise in Gaza offensive | Casualties rise in Gaza offensive |
| (about 1 hour 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 been killed since the 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. |
| There are currently heavy clashes on the northern outskirts of Gaza City. | There are currently heavy clashes on the northern outskirts of Gaza City. |
| Israel has confirmed that three of its soldiers were accidentally killed by their own side in northern Gaza. | |
| The soldiers from the elite Golani Brigade were hit by shellfire from an Israeli tank and a number of other soldiers were wounded. | |
| Intense diplomatic efforts are under way to resolve the crisis, but Israel has rejected calls for a ceasefire. | 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, has appealed for a halt to the violence to allow in humanitarian aid. | 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 and some 2,500 wounded since the Israeli 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, including one soldier during the ground offensive. | 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. | 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 Arabic | Map: 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 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, adding that women and children alone made up 25% of the death toll, and 45% of the wounded. | "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. |
| Civilians on the move | Civilians on the move |
| The Israeli army said it had hit 40 targets in Gaza on Monday, including smuggling tunnels and the homes 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 battle | 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 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. |
| An Israeli army spokesman said three soldiers were killed and three were severely wounded when a tank shell hit a "structure" where the soldiers were located. | |
| "Twenty additional soldiers were lightly to moderately wounded in the same incident," he added. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Hamas and Islamic Jihad said their fighters had engaged Israeli soldiers with machine guns and rockets. Residents reported hearing loud explosions and heavy gunfire. | Hamas and Islamic Jihad said their fighters had engaged Israeli soldiers with machine guns and rockets. Residents reported hearing loud explosions and heavy gunfire. |
| One report said Israeli forces had to use artillery and helicopter gunships to drive back the Palestinian fighters. | One report said Israeli forces had to use artillery and helicopter gunships to drive back the Palestinian fighters. |
| 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. | 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. |
| An Israeli military spokesman said the assault was going according to plan | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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 crisis | Humanitarian 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 violence | Decision 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." |
| At the UN in New York, Arab ministers are pushing for a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. | At the UN 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 Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to attend a meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday to discuss the situation. |
| Are you or your friends or family in the region affected by the violence? Tell us your experiences by using the form below. | Are you or your friends or family in the region affected by the violence? Tell us your experiences by using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions. | Read the terms and conditions. |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |