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Gaza conflict enters third week | Gaza conflict enters third week |
(20 minutes later) | |
Israel has continued to pound Gaza a week after sending in ground troops, despite the UN voicing disappointment ceasefire calls had not been heeded. | Israel has continued to pound Gaza a week after sending in ground troops, despite the UN voicing disappointment ceasefire calls had not been heeded. |
Israel said it launched 40 overnight air strikes targeting Hamas militants firing rockets at Israeli towns. | Israel said it launched 40 overnight air strikes targeting Hamas militants firing rockets at Israeli towns. |
Senior Palestinian officials are in Egypt for talks on how to end the Gaza conflict, which began two weeks ago. | Senior Palestinian officials are in Egypt for talks on how to end the Gaza conflict, which began two weeks ago. |
Health officials in Gaza say nearly 800 Palestinians have died. Israel says 13 Israelis have been killed. | Health officials in Gaza say nearly 800 Palestinians have died. Israel says 13 Israelis have been killed. |
The fresh wave of air strikes into Saturday morning had targeted weapons storage facilities and smuggling tunnels, according to Israel. | |
'Ground fire' | 'Ground fire' |
It also said there had been exchanges of fire between its military and militants on the ground in Gaza. | It also said there had been exchanges of fire between its military and militants on the ground in Gaza. |
This situation will not improve until Hamas stops lobbing rockets into Israel Scott StanzelWhite House spokesman Analysis: Where is Israel heading?Why Gaza war looks sets to go onCan Palestinian feud be mended?Gaza survivors' accounts | This situation will not improve until Hamas stops lobbing rockets into Israel Scott StanzelWhite House spokesman Analysis: Where is Israel heading?Why Gaza war looks sets to go onCan Palestinian feud be mended?Gaza survivors' accounts |
But the BBC's Mike Sergeant, in Jerusalem, says reports from inside Gaza suggest Israeli troops are still not entering the most densely populated areas. | But the BBC's Mike Sergeant, in Jerusalem, says reports from inside Gaza suggest Israeli troops are still not entering the most densely populated areas. |
Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip. | Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip. |
Gaza residents said Israeli warplanes had attacked unoccupied buildings and sites in Khan Younis, in Beit Lahiya and around Gaza City in the early hours. | Gaza residents said Israeli warplanes had attacked unoccupied buildings and sites in Khan Younis, in Beit Lahiya and around Gaza City in the early hours. |
Both sides on Friday ignored a UN Security Council call for an immediate ceasefire to the conflict, which began on 27 December. | Both sides on Friday ignored a UN Security Council call for an immediate ceasefire to the conflict, which began on 27 December. |
Hamas rejected the move first, saying it had not been consulted on the resolution. It insisted any truce must include the ending of Israel's economic blockade of the Gaza Strip. | Hamas rejected the move first, saying it had not been consulted on the resolution. It insisted any truce must include the ending of Israel's economic blockade of the Gaza Strip. |
'Unworkable' | 'Unworkable' |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the continued rocket attacks on Israel showed the resolution was "unworkable". | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the continued rocket attacks on Israel showed the resolution was "unworkable". |
Late on Friday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon telephoned Mr Olmert to express his disappointment that violence was continuing on the ground in disregard of the ceasefire call. | Late on Friday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon telephoned Mr Olmert to express his disappointment that violence was continuing on the ground in disregard of the ceasefire call. |
The United States, which abstained in the UN vote, offered further public support for Israel's military goals. | The United States, which abstained in the UN vote, offered further public support for Israel's military goals. |
GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps | GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps |
"This situation will not improve until Hamas stops lobbing rockets into Israel," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. | "This situation will not improve until Hamas stops lobbing rockets into Israel," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. |
Aid agencies say Gaza's 1.5 million residents are in urgent need of food and medical aid. | Aid agencies say Gaza's 1.5 million residents are in urgent need of food and medical aid. |
The UN is expected to resume aid distribution on Saturday for Palestinians in Gaza after receiving security assurances from Israel. | The UN is expected to resume aid distribution on Saturday for Palestinians in Gaza after receiving security assurances from Israel. |
The UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) had suspended its Gaza operations on Thursday after one of its workers was killed by Israeli fire. | The UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) had suspended its Gaza operations on Thursday after one of its workers was killed by Israeli fire. |
Diplomats have been looking to talks in Egypt for any progress. | Diplomats have been looking to talks in Egypt for any progress. |
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is having talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. | Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is having talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. |
But Mr Abbas - who heads the secular Fatah movement, bitter rivals of Hamas - does not control Gaza, and analysts say he has little impact on the course of the conflict. | But Mr Abbas - who heads the secular Fatah movement, bitter rivals of Hamas - does not control Gaza, and analysts say he has little impact on the course of the conflict. |
Hamas, which took control of Gaza in June 2007, has also sent delegates to Cairo. | Hamas, which took control of Gaza in June 2007, has also sent delegates to Cairo. |
Gaza offensive - in maps | Gaza offensive - in maps |
Egypt negotiated the last ceasefire between Hamas and Israel but, correspondents say, this conflict has strained an already difficult relationship between Cairo and Hamas. | Egypt negotiated the last ceasefire between Hamas and Israel but, correspondents say, this conflict has strained an already difficult relationship between Cairo and Hamas. |
Demonstrations have been held in many countries over the violence, which erupted as a six-month truce between Israel and Hamas unravelled in November. | Demonstrations have been held in many countries over the violence, which erupted as a six-month truce between Israel and Hamas unravelled in November. |
Tens of thousands of people are expected to join a protest in the British capital, London, later on Saturday, organisers say. | Tens of thousands of people are expected to join a protest in the British capital, London, later on Saturday, organisers say. |
The Israeli ambassador to Venezuela, meanwhile, has left the country after being expelled by President Hugo Chavez because of the conflict. | The Israeli ambassador to Venezuela, meanwhile, has left the country after being expelled by President Hugo Chavez because of the conflict. |
The Gaza onslaught comes one month before a parliamentary election in Israel. | The Gaza onslaught comes one month before a parliamentary election in Israel. |
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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