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| Israeli raids as reserves move in | Israeli raids as reserves move in |
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| Israeli planes have carried out fewer air strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight, as some reserve units went into action on the ground. | Israeli planes have carried out fewer air strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight, as some reserve units went into action on the ground. |
| There were 12 air raids - compared with as many as 60 on previous nights. At least nine rockets or mortars were fired on Israel from Gaza on Monday. | |
| The Israeli military denied stepping up a ground offensive against Hamas, despite renewed fierce fighting. | The Israeli military denied stepping up a ground offensive against Hamas, despite renewed fierce fighting. |
| Earlier, PM Ehud Olmert said Israel was nearing its military goals. | Earlier, PM Ehud Olmert said Israel was nearing its military goals. |
| Reports suggest diplomatic efforts between Egypt and Hamas in Cairo are progressing. | Reports suggest diplomatic efforts between Egypt and Hamas in Cairo are progressing. |
| After meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair said elements were in place for a ceasefire agreement. | After meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair said elements were in place for a ceasefire agreement. |
| "I am hopeful we can put an agreement together but it's going to have to be worked on very hard and it's got to be credible," he told journalists. | "I am hopeful we can put an agreement together but it's going to have to be worked on very hard and it's got to be credible," he told journalists. |
| At least five Palestinians including one militant were killed on Monday, bringing the total Palestinian death toll during the conflict to about 900, Palestinian medics said. Israel says 13 Israelis have died. | At least five Palestinians including one militant were killed on Monday, bringing the total Palestinian death toll during the conflict to about 900, Palestinian medics said. Israel says 13 Israelis have died. |
| 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 |
| There were reports of fierce fighting around Gaza City. Reservists were reported to be securing areas gained in the fighting, as regular troops continued their advance. | There were reports of fierce fighting around Gaza City. Reservists were reported to be securing areas gained in the fighting, as regular troops continued their advance. |
| Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip, making it impossible to independently confirm such figures. | Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip, making it impossible to independently confirm such figures. |
| Israel hopes the scale of its operation will greatly reduce the number of missiles fired from Gaza into southern Israel, while eroding support for Hamas. | Israel hopes the scale of its operation will greatly reduce the number of missiles fired from Gaza into southern Israel, while eroding support for Hamas. |
| Militants fired more than 20 rockets on Sunday, slightly injuring three people. At least nine were fired on Monday, one on the town of Ashkelon, striking a house, and one on Kiryat Gat, but none of them caused casualties. | |
| 'Still training' | 'Still training' |
| Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC Israel's goals were "very minimalistic" and "purely defensive". | Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC Israel's goals were "very minimalistic" and "purely defensive". |
| "We refuse, we refuse to return to a reality in which the Israeli civilian population has to live in that constant fear of an incoming Hamas rocket," he said. | "We refuse, we refuse to return to a reality in which the Israeli civilian population has to live in that constant fear of an incoming Hamas rocket," he said. |
| Confirming the deployment of reserve soldiers, Mr Regev said reservists had been called up "a few days back" to augment Israeli forces. | Confirming the deployment of reserve soldiers, Mr Regev said reservists had been called up "a few days back" to augment Israeli forces. |
| I think we could sum it by saying that it's been a living hell for the Palestinians Dr Mads Gilbert Gaza offensive - in mapsUK Jews demand Israeli ceasefireGaza survivors' accounts | I think we could sum it by saying that it's been a living hell for the Palestinians Dr Mads Gilbert Gaza offensive - in mapsUK Jews demand Israeli ceasefireGaza survivors' accounts |
| The Israeli military said some were being used to refresh troops currently in action in Gaza, but that this did not yet constitute an escalation of the campaign. | The Israeli military said some were being used to refresh troops currently in action in Gaza, but that this did not yet constitute an escalation of the campaign. |
| Brig Gen Avi Benayahu, Israel's chief military spokesman, said thousands more - who are to comprise a new, expanded phase in the ground operation - were still in training and had not been deployed. | Brig Gen Avi Benayahu, Israel's chief military spokesman, said thousands more - who are to comprise a new, expanded phase in the ground operation - were still in training and had not been deployed. |
| On Sunday Israel dropped new leaflets into Gaza and left phone messages warning Gazans to stay away from areas used by Hamas, the Associated Press reported. | On Sunday Israel dropped new leaflets into Gaza and left phone messages warning Gazans to stay away from areas used by Hamas, the Associated Press reported. |
| In Cairo, talks between Hamas and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman were described by an unnamed intelligence official as "positive", the state news agency reported, without providing details. | In Cairo, talks between Hamas and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman were described by an unnamed intelligence official as "positive", the state news agency reported, without providing details. |
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| Gaza facing 'medical crisis' | Gaza facing 'medical crisis' |
| On Sunday, after an Israeli cabinet meeting in Jerusalem to consider the country's next move, Mr Olmert praised the military's "impressive gains" in Gaza and said it was time to "translate our achievements into the goals we have set". | On Sunday, after an Israeli cabinet meeting in Jerusalem to consider the country's next move, Mr Olmert praised the military's "impressive gains" in Gaza and said it was time to "translate our achievements into the goals we have set". |
| "Israel is nearing the goals which it set itself, but more patience, determination and effort is still demanded." | "Israel is nearing the goals which it set itself, but more patience, determination and effort is still demanded." |
| Referring to last week's UN Security Council call for an immediate ceasefire, Mr Olmert said "nobody should be allowed to decide for us if we are allowed to strike". | Referring to last week's UN Security Council call for an immediate ceasefire, Mr Olmert said "nobody should be allowed to decide for us if we are allowed to strike". |
| Both Hamas and Israel have rejected the UN resolution. | Both Hamas and Israel have rejected the UN resolution. |
| Civilian patients | Civilian patients |
| In Gaza the main hospital is close to collapse, according to two Norwegian doctors who have been working there during the conflict. | In Gaza the main hospital is close to collapse, according to two Norwegian doctors who have been working there during the conflict. |
| GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps They said patients at al-Shifa hospital are dying because of a lack of specialist doctors and basic medical equipment. | GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps They said patients at al-Shifa hospital are dying because of a lack of specialist doctors and basic medical equipment. |
| Doctors Mads Gilbert and Erik Fosse said half of their patients were civilians, some of them young children with shrapnel and blast wounds. | Doctors Mads Gilbert and Erik Fosse said half of their patients were civilians, some of them young children with shrapnel and blast wounds. |
| They told the BBC that 12 ambulance staff had been killed in shelling, despite their clearly-marked vehicles. | They told the BBC that 12 ambulance staff had been killed in shelling, despite their clearly-marked vehicles. |
| Frequent power cuts mean surgeons are having to perform some operations by torchlight, they said. | Frequent power cuts mean surgeons are having to perform some operations by torchlight, they said. |
| "I think we could sum it by saying that it's been a living hell for the Palestinians," said Dr Gilbert. | "I think we could sum it by saying that it's been a living hell for the Palestinians," said Dr Gilbert. |
| 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. |
| Meanwhile, Israel's army denied deploying white phosphorus bombs in Gaza, after Palestinian medics said they had treated patients for burns caused by the munitions. | Meanwhile, Israel's army denied deploying white phosphorus bombs in Gaza, after Palestinian medics said they had treated patients for burns caused by the munitions. |
| Israel began Operation Cast Lead just weeks before parliamentary elections in the country, as a six-month truce with Hamas unravelled. | Israel began Operation Cast Lead just weeks before parliamentary elections in the country, as a six-month truce with Hamas unravelled. |