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| Bombs hit Gaza as UN urges truce | Bombs hit Gaza as UN urges truce |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israeli aircraft continued to bomb Gaza overnight as the UN urged an immediate end to nearly two weeks of conflict between Israel and Hamas militants. | |
| A Security Council resolution called for a ceasefire, access for aid workers and a lasting solution to the conflict. | A Security Council resolution called for a ceasefire, access for aid workers and a lasting solution to the conflict. |
| Overnight, at least 50 air strikes hit Gaza, one attack reportedly killing five Palestinians. Militants fired several rockets into southern Israel. | |
| It is estimated 770 Palestinians and 14 Israelis have been killed so far. | |
| Meanwhile, eyewitnesses have told the UN that about 30 Palestinians died earlier this week as Israeli forces shelled a house in Gaza City into which Israeli soldiers had previously moved about 100 people, half of them children. | |
| Israel said the allegations were being investigated. | |
| GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps | |
| After the Security Council vote, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israel would continue to act bearing the security of its citizens in mind. | After the Security Council vote, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israel would continue to act bearing the security of its citizens in mind. |
| There has been no official government reaction to the UN vote so far, but the Israeli security cabinet is meeting to consider its reaction and next steps. | |
| The BBC's Tim Franks, in Jerusalem, says there is no guarantee that the UN's call for an immediate end to hostilities will be met. | |
| A prominent Egyptian cleric has called on Muslims across the world to stage rallies on Friday to demonstrate anger at the violence. | A prominent Egyptian cleric has called on Muslims across the world to stage rallies on Friday to demonstrate anger at the violence. |
| Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who heads the Union of Islamic Scholars, said Friday prayers should be dedicated to expressing solidarity with the Palestinians. | Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who heads the Union of Islamic Scholars, said Friday prayers should be dedicated to expressing solidarity with the Palestinians. |
| Israel has stationed thousands of extra police in east Jerusalem, in case of protests after Muslim Friday prayers. | Israel has stationed thousands of extra police in east Jerusalem, in case of protests after Muslim Friday prayers. |
| 'Durable ceasefire' | 'Durable ceasefire' |
| Early on Friday, Israeli planes launched fresh strikes on targets in Gaza. Five members of one family were killed in one attack, witnesses said. | Early on Friday, Israeli planes launched fresh strikes on targets in Gaza. Five members of one family were killed in one attack, witnesses said. |
| In a report which could not be verified independently, Hamas said a bomb had flattened a five-storey apartment block in northern Gaza. href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7819261.stm">Gaza survivors' accounts class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/7812136.stm">Gaza offensive - in mapsIn pictures: Conflict continues | |
| Reports of new attacks emerged as 14 out of 15 Security Council members backed a resolution on the crisis. | Reports of new attacks emerged as 14 out of 15 Security Council members backed a resolution on the crisis. |
| The resolution called for an "immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire" leading to the "full withdrawal" of Israeli forces from Gaza. | The resolution called for an "immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire" leading to the "full withdrawal" of Israeli forces from Gaza. |
| It also called for "the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance", measures to prevent arms smuggling to Palestinian militants and the opening of border crossings into Gaza. | It also called for "the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance", measures to prevent arms smuggling to Palestinian militants and the opening of border crossings into Gaza. |
| It is the first time the Security Council has acted since the Israeli offensive in Gaza began on 27 December. | It is the first time the Security Council has acted since the Israeli offensive in Gaza began on 27 December. |
| The US chose to abstain, thinking it "important to see the outcomes of the Egyptian mediation efforts, in order to see what this resolution might have been supporting", US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice explained. | The US chose to abstain, thinking it "important to see the outcomes of the Egyptian mediation efforts, in order to see what this resolution might have been supporting", US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice explained. |
| Israeli officials visited Cairo on Thursday to hear details of a plan put forward by Egypt and France. | Israeli officials visited Cairo on Thursday to hear details of a plan put forward by Egypt and France. |
| A Hamas delegation is also expected in the Egyptian capital at some stage for parallel "technical" talks, Egyptian diplomats said. | A Hamas delegation is also expected in the Egyptian capital at some stage for parallel "technical" talks, Egyptian diplomats said. |
| Israel wants to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel and to stop Hamas smuggling weapons into Gaza via Egypt, while Hamas says any ceasefire deal must include an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza. | Israel wants to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel and to stop Hamas smuggling weapons into Gaza via Egypt, while Hamas says any ceasefire deal must include an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza. |
| The Security Council's near-unanimous vote represents an important diplomatic punctuation mark in this crisis, correspondents say. | The Security Council's near-unanimous vote represents an important diplomatic punctuation mark in this crisis, correspondents say. |
| But the US abstention weakened the impact of the vote because Washington's support would have placed more pressure on Israel to halt its offensive, they add. | But the US abstention weakened the impact of the vote because Washington's support would have placed more pressure on Israel to halt its offensive, they add. |
| 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. |
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