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Israel 'expands Gaza offensive' Israel 'expands' Gaza offensive
(about 1 hour 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.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 own tanks in northern Gaza. At least 20 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday and three Israeli soldiers were killed by fire from one of their own 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. The UN says at least 25% of those are civilians.
Aid agencies in Gaza speak of appalling conditions for treating casualties of the continuing Israeli bombardments. At least three Palestinians were killed on Tuesday when an Israeli air strike hit a United Nations school in the Gaza Strip, UN officials said.
Rejecting international appeals for a ceasefire, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the operation would continue until it met its objective. Other people were killed as Israeli shell-fire and air strikes hit the Gaza coast, Gaza City and Jebaliya refugee camp in the north of the territory.
Foreign diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis have borne little fruit so far. class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7812295.stm">Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7811189.stm">Map: Gaza offensive - Week Two class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7812928.stm">In pictures: Gaza casualties mount class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/arabic/news/">BBC News in Arabic
Single shell The reported move by Israeli forces into Khan Younis followed heavy fighting overnight around Gaza City and on the edges of the Deir al-Balah and Bureij refugee camps in central Gaza.
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. Hamas and Islamic Jihad said their fighters had engaged Israeli soldiers with machine-guns and rockets in Gaza City. Residents reported hearing loud explosions and heavy gunfire.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7812295.stm">Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7811189.stm">Map: Gaza incursion - Week Two class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7812928.stm">In pictures: Gaza casualties mount class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/arabic/news/">BBC News in Arabic The Israeli army said three of its soldiers were killed by a shell from an Israeli tank which hit their position.
"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. A fourth Israeli soldier was killed in fighting in the north of the Gaza Strip, military officials said.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ceasefire calls
The escalation in fighting comes as international pressure for a ceasefire is growing.
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.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in the Middle East trying to gather support for a ceasefire and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, whose country holds the EU presidency, is also in the region.
Israeli officials have so far rejected calls for a truce.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said any ceasefire would have to include provisions to prevent Hamas from re-arming in order to prevent future rocket attacks on Israel.
Hamas has said that Israeli attacks on Gaza must stop and the crossings into the territory, which Israel controls, must be fully opened.
'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. Living conditions in Gaza are reported to be deteriorating sharply, with supplies of fuel and food not getting to where they are needed. Many in Gaza are also without running water or electricity.
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 GazaFears 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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