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| Israel 'expands Gaza offensive' | Israel 'expands Gaza offensive' |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Israeli forces have widened their attacks in the Gaza Strip to include Khan Younis in the south, reports say. | Israeli forces have widened their attacks in the Gaza Strip to include Khan Younis in the south, reports say. |
| The fresh attack follows heavy fighting overnight near Gaza City in the north. | |
| At least 18 Palestinians were killed early on Tuesday and three Israeli soldiers were killed by fire from one of their town tanks in northern Gaza. | At least 18 Palestinians were killed early on Tuesday and three Israeli soldiers were killed by fire from one of their town tanks in northern Gaza. |
| Palestinian medical officials say at least 110 people have died since the ground assault began while Israel says it has killed 130 Hamas fighters. | Palestinian medical officials say at least 110 people have died since the ground assault began while Israel says it has killed 130 Hamas fighters. |
| About 560 Palestinians have been killed since Israel moved to end rocket attacks from Gaza 11 days ago, Palestinian medical officials say. | About 560 Palestinians have been killed since Israel moved to end rocket attacks from Gaza 11 days ago, Palestinian medical officials say. |
| Aid agencies in Gaza speak of appalling conditions for treating casualties of the continuing Israeli bombardments. | Aid agencies in Gaza speak of appalling conditions for treating casualties of the continuing Israeli bombardments. |
| Rejecting international appeals for a ceasefire, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the operation would continue until it met its objective. | Rejecting international appeals for a ceasefire, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the operation would continue until it met its objective. |
| Foreign diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis have borne little fruit so far. | Foreign diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis have borne little fruit so far. |
| Single shell | Single shell |
| An Israeli army spokesman said three soldiers from the elite Golani Brigade had been killed accidentally by a single tank shell, with a further four severely wounded and 20 suffering lighter injuries. | An Israeli army spokesman said three soldiers from the elite Golani Brigade had been killed accidentally by a single tank shell, with a further four severely wounded and 20 suffering lighter injuries. |
| Gaza humanitarian crisis deepensMap: Gaza incursion - Week TwoIn pictures: Gaza casualties mountBBC News in Arabic | Gaza humanitarian crisis deepensMap: Gaza incursion - Week TwoIn pictures: Gaza casualties mountBBC News in Arabic |
| "In the fierce battle that was being waged between our Golani brigade soldiers against the Hamas... unfortunately one of our tanks actually exploded on to a building where our forces were located," Capt Guy Stiegelman told the BBC. | "In the fierce battle that was being waged between our Golani brigade soldiers against the Hamas... unfortunately one of our tanks actually exploded on to a building where our forces were located," Capt Guy Stiegelman told the BBC. |
| At nightfall on Monday, Israeli troops were reported to be battling Palestinian militants on the outskirts of the Shujaiya district of Gaza City. | At nightfall on Monday, Israeli troops were reported to be battling Palestinian militants on the outskirts of the 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. |
| Israel's Haaretz newspaper, quoting Israeli army sources, reports that Hamas lobbed mortars at the soldiers. | Israel's Haaretz newspaper, quoting Israeli army sources, reports that Hamas lobbed mortars at the soldiers. |
| Artillery and helicopter gunships were reportedly brought in to drive back the Palestinian fighters. | Artillery and helicopter gunships were reportedly brought in to drive back the Palestinian fighters. |
| Describing fighters' tactics, an unnamed Hamas official told AFP news agency that fighters had lured Israeli forces into a trap. | Describing fighters' tactics, an unnamed Hamas official told AFP news agency that fighters had lured Israeli forces into a trap. |
| "We have left a lot of explosives in their path," he added. | "We have left a lot of explosives in their path," he added. |
| Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Ahmed said the group had lost one man in the fighting in Shujaiya. | Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Ahmed said the group had lost one man in the fighting in Shujaiya. |
| "Communications with our fighters are cut at the moment but it [combat] is still going on," he added. | "Communications with our fighters are cut at the moment but it [combat] is still going on," he added. |
| Israeli tanks backed by helicopter gunships were moving into Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning, witnesses said, to be met by fire from Hamas and other militant groups. | Israeli tanks backed by helicopter gunships were moving into Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning, witnesses said, to be met by fire from Hamas and other militant groups. |
| On Monday, Israeli tanks were reported moving towards the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza and Beit Hanoun and the Jabaliya refugee camp saw clashes. | On Monday, Israeli tanks were reported moving towards the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza and Beit Hanoun and the Jabaliya refugee camp saw clashes. |
| Information about what is happening inside Gaza is limited as Israel has barred foreign reporters from entering. | Information about what is happening inside Gaza is limited as Israel has barred foreign reporters from entering. |
| 'Serious hunger' | 'Serious hunger' |
| Living conditions in Gaza are reported to be deteriorating sharply, with supplies of fuel, food, and wheat not getting to where they are needed. Many is Gaza are also without a water or electricity supply. | |
| Norwegian doctor Mads Gilbert, one of two foreign doctors working at Gaza's biggest hospital, al-Shifa, said operating rooms were full and people were dying because of a lack of supplies. | Norwegian doctor Mads Gilbert, one of two foreign doctors working at Gaza's biggest hospital, al-Shifa, said operating rooms were full and people were dying because of a lack of supplies. |
| Fears are growing over mounting civilian casualties in Gaza | |
| Israel says it is not targeting civilians but Dr Gilbert said he had only seen two fighters among hundreds of casualties. | Israel says it is not targeting civilians but Dr Gilbert said he had only seen two fighters among hundreds of casualties. |
| The UN says a million people in the territory are without electricity and many are facing "serious hunger" within days. | The UN says a million people in the territory are without electricity and many are facing "serious hunger" within days. |
| Dominic Nutt, of the aid agency Save The Children, told the BBC that workers in the territory were reporting rapidly deteriorating conditions: | Dominic Nutt, of the aid agency Save The Children, told the BBC that workers in the territory were reporting rapidly deteriorating conditions: |
| "They don't have any water most of the day, there is no electricity, they are freezing cold, the windows have to be left open to stop them smashing when the bombs fall. | "They don't have any water most of the day, there is no electricity, they are freezing cold, the windows have to be left open to stop them smashing when the bombs fall. |
| "Children are at risk from hypothermia, they are malnourished, there is not enough food, the situation is getting desperate." | "Children are at risk from hypothermia, they are malnourished, there is not enough food, the situation is getting desperate." |
| Thousands of Gazans are reported to have fled their homes, despite the dangers of moving around outdoors in the territory. | Thousands of Gazans are reported to have fled their homes, despite the dangers of moving around outdoors in the territory. |
| Israel says it has allowed a convoy of 80 lorries carrying food and medicines through Gaza's southern border with Egypt. | Israel says it has allowed a convoy of 80 lorries carrying food and medicines through Gaza's southern border with Egypt. |
| Ceasefire hopes | |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to travel to Damascus on Tuesday along with an EU delegation in a bid to persuade Syria to influence Hamas leaders to accept his plan for a ceasefire. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to travel to Damascus on Tuesday along with an EU delegation in a bid to persuade Syria to influence Hamas leaders to accept his plan for a ceasefire. |
| He held talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the region on Monday. | He held talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the region on Monday. |
| Accusing Hamas of acting in an "irresponsible and unforgivable manner" by firing rockets into Israel, he appealed to Israel for a halt to the violence to allow in humanitarian aid. | Accusing Hamas of acting in an "irresponsible and unforgivable manner" by firing rockets into Israel, he appealed to Israel for a halt to the violence to allow in humanitarian aid. |
| Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to attend a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, along with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France and Britain, in an attempt to put pressure on the Security Council to act decisively. | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to attend a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, along with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France and Britain, in an attempt to put pressure on the Security Council to act decisively. |
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