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Gaza pounded amid push for truce Gaza pounded amid push for truce
(10 minutes later)
Israeli tanks have pushed deep into Gaza City, prompting fierce exchanges of gunfire with fighters of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.Israeli tanks have pushed deep into Gaza City, prompting fierce exchanges of gunfire with fighters of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The UN's relief agency, Unrwa, says part of its HQ in Gaza caught fire after being hit by Israeli shells.The UN's relief agency, Unrwa, says part of its HQ in Gaza caught fire after being hit by Israeli shells.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed outrage. Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said troops returned fire after coming under attack from the UN's compound.UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed outrage. Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said troops returned fire after coming under attack from the UN's compound.
Israel's head negotiator is in Cairo to discuss an Egyptian ceasefire plan.Israel's head negotiator is in Cairo to discuss an Egyptian ceasefire plan.
Hamas officials, who have been meeting separately with the Egyptian mediators in Cairo, said progress had been made, but did not elaborate.Hamas officials, who have been meeting separately with the Egyptian mediators in Cairo, said progress had been made, but did not elaborate.
Speaking to reporters on the Israel-Gaza border, Unrwa spokesman Christopher Gunness said three of the agency's employees were hurt in the attack on its compound in Gaza City.Speaking to reporters on the Israel-Gaza border, Unrwa spokesman Christopher Gunness said three of the agency's employees were hurt in the attack on its compound in Gaza City.
See map of Gaza City and areaSee map of Gaza City and area
About 700 people were still sheltering in the compound, he said, and the fire had been burning close to five full fuel tanks.About 700 people were still sheltering in the compound, he said, and the fire had been burning close to five full fuel tanks.
Mr Gunness added that Unrwa would not be able to distribute food or medical supplies on Thursday as its trucks were unable to leave the compound.Mr Gunness added that Unrwa would not be able to distribute food or medical supplies on Thursday as its trucks were unable to leave the compound.
An Israeli security source said Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak had told Mr Ban that he regretted that UN personnel had been hurt, but denied that Mr Barak had said it was a "grave mistake".An Israeli security source said Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak had told Mr Ban that he regretted that UN personnel had been hurt, but denied that Mr Barak had said it was a "grave mistake".
EscalationEscalation
Israeli military officials say they attacked 70 military targets overnight, including a mosque they say was being used to store weapons.Israeli military officials say they attacked 70 military targets overnight, including a mosque they say was being used to store weapons.
The BBC's Rushdi Abualouf describes the scene outside his homeThe BBC's Rushdi Abualouf describes the scene outside his home
The BBC's Hamada Abuqammar in Gaza said the coastal enclave came under extremely heavy artillery fire from the east in the early hours, and that the skies were full of thick smoke.The BBC's Hamada Abuqammar in Gaza said the coastal enclave came under extremely heavy artillery fire from the east in the early hours, and that the skies were full of thick smoke.
Our correspondent said Israeli tanks seemed to be pushing closer to the heart of Gaza City, near the Unrwa headquarters, and that there were reports of 21 people killed in fighting since the early hours.Our correspondent said Israeli tanks seemed to be pushing closer to the heart of Gaza City, near the Unrwa headquarters, and that there were reports of 21 people killed in fighting since the early hours.
Witnesses said they saw soldiers on foot marching behind bulldozers and tanks.Witnesses said they saw soldiers on foot marching behind bulldozers and tanks.
Rushdi Abualouf, the BBC's Gaza producer, described the scene as the building where he lives in Tel al-Hawa, south-west of Gaza City, was surrounded by Israeli tanks.Rushdi Abualouf, the BBC's Gaza producer, described the scene as the building where he lives in Tel al-Hawa, south-west of Gaza City, was surrounded by Israeli tanks.
Tank shells hit the lower floors two or three times, he said.Tank shells hit the lower floors two or three times, he said.
"People have been screaming from their balconies, calling for help," he said."People have been screaming from their balconies, calling for help," he said.
Eyewitness: Tanks surround usEyewitness: Gaza's medical crisisAid worker diary: Part 16 href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7830840.stm">In pictures: Suffering in Gaza class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7830253.stm">Eyewitness: Tanks surround usEyewitness: Gaza's medical crisisAid worker diary: Part 16
He said that from his window he could see fighters from Hamas and other Palestinian factions firing at Israeli tanks from rooftops and balconies, and that the Israeli tanks were firing back.He said that from his window he could see fighters from Hamas and other Palestinian factions firing at Israeli tanks from rooftops and balconies, and that the Israeli tanks were firing back.
Reports said at least 15 rockets had been fired from Gaza into Israel since the early morning.Reports said at least 15 rockets had been fired from Gaza into Israel since the early morning.
More than 1,000 Gazans and 13 Israelis have reportedly died so far in the conflict.More than 1,000 Gazans and 13 Israelis have reportedly died so far in the conflict.
Speaking to the press after meeting Israeli leaders in Tel Aviv, Mr Ban repeated previous calls for an immediate ceasefire, and said the suffering in Gaza was a "dire humanitarian crisis" that had reached an "unbearable point".Speaking to the press after meeting Israeli leaders in Tel Aviv, Mr Ban repeated previous calls for an immediate ceasefire, and said the suffering in Gaza was a "dire humanitarian crisis" that had reached an "unbearable point".
In other developments:
  • The UK Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown says the British government "utterly" condemns the attack on the UN headquarters in Gaza. Fierce criticism also came from the French foreign ministry
  • Two hospitals in Gaza City are hit by shellfire: the al-Quds hospital in Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood, scene of heavy fighting, and a Red Crescent hospital, the UK Red Cross says
  • The Shurouq tower block in Gaza City, which houses the offices of the Reuters news agency and several other media organisations, is hit by an explosion, injuring a journalist for the Abu Dhabi television channel
  • Leaders of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council are to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss the crisis. The Saudi monarch, King Abdullah, said the meeting was convened because of what he called Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people
  • A boat carrying medical supplies to Gaza is surrounded by Israeli warships in international waters off Lebanon's southern coast and forced to return to Cyprus, according to charity Free Gaza
  • Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip reach 1,028 according to Gaza medical sources. Nearly a third of the dead are said to be children
In other developments:
  • The UK Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown says the British government "utterly" condemns the attack on the UN headquarters in Gaza. Fierce criticism also came from the French foreign ministry
  • Two hospitals in Gaza City are hit by shellfire: the al-Quds hospital in Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood, scene of heavy fighting, and a Red Crescent hospital, the UK Red Cross says
  • The Shurouq tower block in Gaza City, which houses the offices of the Reuters news agency and several other media organisations, is hit by an explosion, injuring a journalist for the Abu Dhabi television channel
  • Leaders of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council are to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss the crisis. The Saudi monarch, King Abdullah, said the meeting was convened because of what he called Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people
  • A boat carrying medical supplies to Gaza is surrounded by Israeli warships in international waters off Lebanon's southern coast and forced to return to Cyprus, according to charity Free Gaza
  • Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip reach 1,028 according to Gaza medical sources. Nearly a third of the dead are said to be children
'Detailed vision''Detailed vision'
Israel's chief negotiator, Amos Gilad, has arrived in Cairo to discuss an Egyptian ceasefire plan that could end the 20-day-old conflict.Israel's chief negotiator, Amos Gilad, has arrived in Cairo to discuss an Egyptian ceasefire plan that could end the 20-day-old conflict.
Egypt has been leading efforts to broker a ceasefire that could include a peacekeeping force being deployed along its border with Gaza to prevent the smuggling of weapons.Egypt has been leading efforts to broker a ceasefire that could include a peacekeeping force being deployed along its border with Gaza to prevent the smuggling of weapons.
Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil said his movement had presented Egyptian negotiators with a "detailed vision" of how to bring about a ceasefire.Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil said his movement had presented Egyptian negotiators with a "detailed vision" of how to bring about a ceasefire.
These details concerned how to ensure border crossings into Gaza could be re-opened under international supervision, he said, and would be presented to Israeli envoys visiting Cairo.These details concerned how to ensure border crossings into Gaza could be re-opened under international supervision, he said, and would be presented to Israeli envoys visiting Cairo.
GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in mapsGAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps
Hamas, which controls Gaza, has said any ceasefire agreement would have to include a halt to Israeli attacks, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the opening of border crossings to end the blockade of Gaza.Hamas, which controls Gaza, has said any ceasefire agreement would have to include a halt to Israeli attacks, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the opening of border crossings to end the blockade of Gaza.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said there was "momentum" to the talks.Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said there was "momentum" to the talks.
"Ultimately we want to see a long-term sustainable quiet in the south, a quiet that's going to be based on the total absence of all hostile fire from Gaza into Israel, and an internationally supported mechanism that will prevent Hamas from rearming," Mr Regev said."Ultimately we want to see a long-term sustainable quiet in the south, a quiet that's going to be based on the total absence of all hostile fire from Gaza into Israel, and an internationally supported mechanism that will prevent Hamas from rearming," Mr Regev said.
Egypt and other key Arab players can do some coaxing and arm-twisting with Hamas, says BBC Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi, but there is little pressure they can bring to bear upon Israel: only the US has that sort of influence.Egypt and other key Arab players can do some coaxing and arm-twisting with Hamas, says BBC Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi, but there is little pressure they can bring to bear upon Israel: only the US has that sort of influence.
Israel launched its offensive on the Gaza Strip on 27 December and has refused to allow international journalists to enter Gaza, making it impossible to independently confirm casualty figures.Israel launched its offensive on the Gaza Strip on 27 December and has refused to allow international journalists to enter Gaza, making it impossible to independently confirm casualty figures.
The offensive has provoked widespread international condemnation at the cost in civilian casualties and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the coastal enclave.The offensive has provoked widespread international condemnation at the cost in civilian casualties and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the coastal enclave.
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