This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7822623.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Gaza hit by new Israeli strikes | Gaza hit by new Israeli strikes |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Israel says it carried out more than 60 air strikes overnight on the Gaza Strip, as its cabinet prepares to discuss stepping up the offensive. | Israel says it carried out more than 60 air strikes overnight on the Gaza Strip, as its cabinet prepares to discuss stepping up the offensive. |
| The home of the head of Hamas' military wing was among the targets, Israel said. There are now reports of heavy clashes on Gaza City's outskirts. | The home of the head of Hamas' military wing was among the targets, Israel said. There are now reports of heavy clashes on Gaza City's outskirts. |
| Gaza militants fired several rockets into Israel overnight, reports said. | Gaza militants fired several rockets into Israel overnight, reports said. |
| Israel's security cabinet is meeting to decide whether to push forces further into Gaza's densely populated areas. | Israel's security cabinet is meeting to decide whether to push forces further into Gaza's densely populated areas. |
| The BBC's Mike Sergeant in Jerusalem says Israeli commanders are said to be getting impatient as the government ponders its next move. | The BBC's Mike Sergeant in Jerusalem says Israeli commanders are said to be getting impatient as the government ponders its next move. |
| On Saturday night, Palestinian medics accused Israeli forces of firing white phosphorus shells at a village, a claim Israel strongly denied. | |
| Leaflets dropped | Leaflets dropped |
| The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said its air strikes into Sunday morning had targeted tunnels, weapons stores and a mosque that was allegedly used to store weapons. | The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said its air strikes into Sunday morning had targeted tunnels, weapons stores and a mosque that was allegedly used to store weapons. |
| Its ground forces were involved in a "number of incidents", the IDF said. | Its ground forces were involved in a "number of incidents", the IDF said. |
| Analysis: Where is Israel heading?Why Gaza war looks set to go onIn pictures: Crisis into third week | Analysis: Where is Israel heading?Why Gaza war looks set to go onIn pictures: Crisis into third week |
| The strikes came hours after Israel dropped leaflets and left phone messages warning Gazans to stay away from areas used by Hamas and saying its operation would soon enter "phase three". | The strikes came hours after Israel dropped leaflets and left phone messages warning Gazans to stay away from areas used by Hamas and saying its operation would soon enter "phase three". |
| Hamas launched a barrage of rockets on Sunday, two of which struck 42 km (26 miles) inside southern Israel at the city of Beersheba, the military said. There were no reported casualties or damage. | |
| Some 820 Gazans and 13 Israelis have reportedly died in 14 days of fighting. Medical staff said 235 children are among at least 820 Palestinians killed in the conflict. | Some 820 Gazans and 13 Israelis have reportedly died in 14 days of fighting. Medical staff said 235 children are among at least 820 Palestinians killed in the conflict. |
| Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip, and none of the figures can be independently confirmed. | Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip, and none of the figures can be independently confirmed. |
| At least three deaths were reported on Sunday, including a woman killed by Israeli artillery fire in the southern Gaza Strip, according to Reuters news agency. | At least three deaths were reported on Sunday, including a woman killed by Israeli artillery fire in the southern Gaza Strip, according to Reuters news agency. |
| Two militants were also killed by an air strike while in a car on a coastal road, medical workers said. | Two militants were also killed by an air strike while in a car on a coastal road, medical workers said. |
| And dozens of Palestinians were reportedly injured in southern Gaza, near the village of Khouza to the east of Khan Younis. | And dozens of Palestinians were reportedly injured in southern Gaza, near the village of Khouza to the east of Khan Younis. |
| Palestinian medics said many of the casualties were suffering from burns and gas inhalations - symptoms they said indicate exposure to white phosphorus. | |
| 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 |
| But Israel's military categorically denied the claims, saying all weapons used by Israel were legal. | But Israel's military categorically denied the claims, saying all weapons used by Israel were legal. |
| Although white phosphorus is legal in munitions, its use against civilians is banned under international law. | |
| New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of using white phosphorus in its current Gaza operations. | |
| Our correspondent says the diplomacy appears to be moving slowly as well. | Our correspondent says the diplomacy appears to be moving slowly as well. |
| Diplomats have suggested an international force to police Gaza's border with Egypt, and stop weapons being smuggled, but Cairo rejected this on Saturday. | Diplomats have suggested an international force to police Gaza's border with Egypt, and stop weapons being smuggled, but Cairo rejected this on Saturday. |
| A senior Israeli official raised doubts about the proposal, saying Egypt's security forces might be better able to secure its boundary with Gaza and stop Hamas rearming. | A senior Israeli official raised doubts about the proposal, saying Egypt's security forces might be better able to secure its boundary with Gaza and stop Hamas rearming. |
| And speaking from exile in the Syrian capital Damascus, Hamas' leader said "any foreign troops would be considered as occupiers". | And speaking from exile in the Syrian capital Damascus, Hamas' leader said "any foreign troops would be considered as occupiers". |
| Khaled Meshaal also condemned the Israeli offensive as a "holocaust". | Khaled Meshaal also condemned the Israeli offensive as a "holocaust". |
| He said the war in Gaza had brought resistance to every Palestinian household, adding a breakthrough would come only if Israel immediately stopped the bombardment, lifted the blockade of Gaza, opened all crossings and withdrew its troops. | He said the war in Gaza had brought resistance to every Palestinian household, adding a breakthrough would come only if Israel immediately stopped the bombardment, lifted the blockade of Gaza, opened all crossings and withdrew its troops. |
| Gaza offensive - in mapsUK Jews demand Israeli ceasefireGaza survivors' accounts | Gaza offensive - in mapsUK Jews demand Israeli ceasefireGaza survivors' accounts |
| On Saturday, Hamas militants reportedly fired more than 30 rockets across the border, while Israel launched more than 70 attacks by air, land and sea. | On Saturday, Hamas militants reportedly fired more than 30 rockets across the border, while Israel launched more than 70 attacks by air, land and sea. |
| It came as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged all sides to accept an Egyptian-French ceasefire initiative after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. | It came as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged all sides to accept an Egyptian-French ceasefire initiative after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. |
| 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. |
| Hamas, which was elected in 2006 and took control of Gaza in June the following year, sent delegates to Cairo for the second time in a week for separate talks. | Hamas, which was elected in 2006 and took control of Gaza in June the following year, sent delegates to Cairo for the second time in a week for separate talks. |
| 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. |
| Israel and Hamas have both ignored a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. | Israel and Hamas have both ignored a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. |
| 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 latest 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 latest violence erupted as a six-month truce between Israel and Hamas unravelled in November and comes one month before a parliamentary election in Israel. |
| Tens of thousands of people attended rallies held across the US, Europe and the Middle East against the Israeli offensive on Saturday. | |