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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, while Hamas militants fired several rockets at Israeli towns. | Israel said it launched 40 overnight air strikes, while Hamas militants fired several 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 more than 800 Palestinians have died. Israel says 13 Israelis have been killed. | Health officials in Gaza say more than 800 Palestinians have died. Israel says 13 Israelis have been killed. |
'Waterfall of blood' | 'Waterfall of blood' |
The fresh wave of air strikes into Saturday morning had targeted weapons storage facilities and smuggling tunnels, according to Israel. | The fresh wave of air strikes into Saturday morning had targeted weapons storage facilities and smuggling tunnels, according to Israel. |
But Palestinian medical officials say eight people who appeared to be civilians were killed when an Israeli tank shell hit a street in Jabalya, in northern Gaza. | But Palestinian medical officials say eight people who appeared to be civilians were killed when an Israeli tank shell hit a street in Jabalya, in northern Gaza. |
On the ground, Israeli troops are reported to have moved closer to the edge of Gaza City, though they have yet to go into the most densely populated areas. | On the ground, Israeli troops are reported to have moved closer to the edge of Gaza City, though they have yet to go into the most densely populated areas. |
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 |
Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip. | Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip. |
Hamas fired more rockets at Israel on Saturday, a day after launching more than 30 of the missiles from Gaza, the Israeli military said. Two Israelis were injured by rockets in the Israeli town of Ashkelon. | |
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged all sides on Saturday to accept an Egyptian-brokered truce, after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo. | Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged all sides on Saturday to accept an Egyptian-brokered truce, after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo. |
But Mr Abbas - who heads the secular Fatah movement, bitter rivals of Hamas - does not control Gaza, and analysts say he will have 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 will have little impact on the course of the conflict. |
"If any party does not accept it [the truce], regrettably it will be the one bearing the responsibility, and if Israel doesn't want to accept, it will take the responsibility of perpetuating a waterfall of blood," Mr Abbas was quoted as saying by AP news agency. | "If any party does not accept it [the truce], regrettably it will be the one bearing the responsibility, and if Israel doesn't want to accept, it will take the responsibility of perpetuating a waterfall of blood," Mr Abbas was quoted as saying by AP news agency. |
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 |
Hamas, which took control of Gaza in June 2007, has also sent delegates to Cairo for separate talks. | Hamas, which took control of Gaza in June 2007, has also sent delegates to Cairo for separate talks. |
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. |
Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said on Friday some incidents reported during the fighting in Gaza might warrant prosecutions for war crimes. | Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said on Friday some incidents reported during the fighting in Gaza might warrant prosecutions for war crimes. |
"The vicious cycle of provocation and retribution must be brought to an end," she told the human rights council. | "The vicious cycle of provocation and retribution must be brought to an end," she told the human rights council. |
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. |
'Unworkable' | 'Unworkable' |
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. |
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". |
Gaza offensive - in maps | Gaza offensive - in maps |
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. |
"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 resumed aid distribution on Saturday for Palestinians in Gaza after receiving security assurances from Israel. | The UN resumed 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. |
The violence erupted as a six-month truce between Israel and Hamas unravelled in November and comes one month before a parliamentary election in Israel. | The violence erupted as a six-month truce between Israel and Hamas unravelled in November and 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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