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Key Hamas leader killed in Gaza Key Hamas leader killed in Gaza
(about 4 hours later)
One of the top Hamas leaders in Gaza has been killed in an air strike, Hamas and Israeli officials have said.One of the top Hamas leaders in Gaza has been killed in an air strike, Hamas and Israeli officials have said.
Said Siyam, the Hamas interior minister, was killed in an air raid on his brother's home near Gaza City.Said Siyam, the Hamas interior minister, was killed in an air raid on his brother's home near Gaza City.
Earlier, Israeli troops and tanks moved closer into the heart of Gaza City, prompting fierce gun battles with fighters from Hamas. Earlier, Israeli troops and tanks moved closer into the heart of Gaza City, engaging in fierce gun battles with fighters from Hamas.
The UN's relief agency, Unrwa, said part of its HQ in Gaza caught fire after being hit by Israeli shells.The UN's relief agency, Unrwa, said part of its HQ in Gaza caught fire after being hit by Israeli shells.
Senior figureSenior figure
As interior minister, Mr Siyam controlled thousands of Hamas security troops in Gaza and was said to be widely feared.As interior minister, Mr Siyam controlled thousands of Hamas security troops in Gaza and was said to be widely feared.
His son and brother were also killed in the strike, along with two other Hamas officials - the interior ministry's security director Saleh Abu Sharkh and the local leader of the Hamas militia, Mahmoud Abu Watfah.His son and brother were also killed in the strike, along with two other Hamas officials - the interior ministry's security director Saleh Abu Sharkh and the local leader of the Hamas militia, Mahmoud Abu Watfah.
SAID SIYAM Born: 1959, Shati refugee campSix children - two boys, four girlsMember of Hamas Political BureauElected to Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006; top Hamas MPBecame Hamas interior minister in 2007, after serving one year as Palestinian interior minsterSaid to have become member of Hamas "collective leadership" in Gaza after 2004 killings of Sheikh Yassin and Abdel-Aziz Rantissi Created Hamas Executive Force, a paramilitary which played key role in take-over of Gaza in June 2007Killed in Israeli air strike on 15 January 2009 PROFILE: SAID SIYAM Born: 1959, Shati refugee campSix children - two boys, four girlsMember of Hamas Political BureauElected to Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006; top Hamas MPBecame Hamas interior minister in 2007, after serving one year as Palestinian interior minsterSaid to have become member of Hamas "collective leadership" in Gaza after 2004 killings of Sheikh Yassin and Abdel-Aziz Rantissi Created Hamas Executive Force, a paramilitary which played key role in take-over of Gaza in June 2007Killed in Israeli air strike on 15 January 2009
Mr Siyam is one of the most senior Hamas leaders killed in the 20-day Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip. Mr Siyam is one of the most senior Hamas leaders killed in the 20-day Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip aimed at stopping Palestinian rocket fire into Israel.
He became a member of the "collective leadership" of the militant group in 2004 after Sheikh Yassin and Abdel-Aziz Rantissi were assassinated by Israel.He became a member of the "collective leadership" of the militant group in 2004 after Sheikh Yassin and Abdel-Aziz Rantissi were assassinated by Israel.
His death came at the end of a day of fierce clashes which also saw the UN compound in Gaza City shelled by Israeli troops.His death came at the end of a day of fierce clashes which also saw the UN compound in Gaza City shelled by Israeli troops.
Unrwa spokesman Christopher Gunness said three of the agency's employees were hurt in the attack. UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) spokesman Christopher Gunness said three of the agency's employees were hurt in the attack.
About 700 people were sheltering in the compound at the time, he said, and the fire burnt through stocks of food and medicine, approaching five full fuel tanks.About 700 people were sheltering in the compound at the time, he said, and the fire burnt through stocks of food and medicine, approaching five full fuel tanks.
Mr Olmert met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and apologised for the attack, but said Palestinian fighters had been firing from the UN site. Mr Olmert met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Tel Aviv and apologised for the attack, but said Palestinian fighters had been firing from the UN site.
See map of Gaza City and areaSee map of Gaza City and area
"It is absolutely true that we were attacked from that place, but the consequences are very sad and we apologise for it," he said."It is absolutely true that we were attacked from that place, but the consequences are very sad and we apologise for it," he said.
"I don't think it should have happened and I'm very sorry.""I don't think it should have happened and I'm very sorry."
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The Unrwa compound in Gaza City on fire The Israeli attack on the housing complex left a huge crater
The coastal enclave came under heavy fire from the east in the early morning as soldiers and tanks pushed into Gaza City. The Gaza Strip was subjected to a punishing series of air strikes overnight and shell-fire raked the coastal enclave as soldiers and tanks pushed into Gaza City.
Witnesses said they saw soldiers on foot marching behind bulldozers and tanks.
The advancing troops came under fire from fighters from Hamas and other Palestinian factions positioned on rooftops and balconies, said the BBC's Rushdi Abualouf.The advancing troops came under fire from fighters from Hamas and other Palestinian factions positioned on rooftops and balconies, said the BBC's Rushdi Abualouf.
The building where he lives in the Gaza City suburb of Tel al-Hawa was surrounded by Israeli tanks at one point, he said, and several shells hit the lower floors.The building where he lives in the Gaza City suburb of Tel al-Hawa was surrounded by Israeli tanks at one point, he said, and several shells hit the lower floors.
Columns of thick smoke rose into the sky over Gaza. At least one hospital in Gaza City - al Quds, run by the Palestinian Red Crescent - was hit by shellfire, but no injuries were reported.
A tower block housing offices from several media companies was also hit. One journalist from the Abu Dhabi television channel was injured.
Columns of thick smoke rose into the sky over Gaza as the fighting carried on through the day.
In pictures: Suffering in GazaEyewitness: Tanks surround usEyewitness: Gaza's medical crisisBowen: Damascus to JerusalemIn pictures: Suffering in GazaEyewitness: Tanks surround usEyewitness: Gaza's medical crisisBowen: Damascus to Jerusalem
A total of 1,083 people in Gaza have now been killed since the Israeli operation began, Gaza's Ministry of Health said on Thursday - 70 higher than the previous day's figure. Nearly a third of the dead are children, Gaza medics said.A total of 1,083 people in Gaza have now been killed since the Israeli operation began, Gaza's Ministry of Health said on Thursday - 70 higher than the previous day's figure. Nearly a third of the dead are children, Gaza medics said.
Thirteen Israelis - including three civilians - have died. Thirteen Israelis - including three civilians - have died. Two-hundred-and-thirty-three soldiers have been wounded, an Israeli army spokesman said.
Reports said at least 15 rockets had been fired from Gaza into Israel since the early morning, injuring eight people in Beersheba. As the clashes continued in Gaza, about 25 rockets were fired from the territory into southern Israel, Israeli police said.
Speaking to the media 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". Eight people were injured in Beersheba from the rocket fire, Israeli medical officials said.
In other developments:
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  • 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 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
 Humanitarian crisis
'Detailed vision' As Gaza saw one of the fiercest days of fighting since the conflict began on 27 December, international condemnation of the Israeli operation grew.
In the midst of a Middle East tour to rally support for an end to the fighting, Mr Ban repeated previous calls for an immediate ceasefire.
GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps
He said the suffering in Gaza was a "dire humanitarian crisis" that had reached an "unbearable point".
Meanwhile, Hamas and Israeli negotiators were said to be making progress towards a ceasefire agreement as they held separate meetings with Egyptian mediators in Cairo.Meanwhile, Hamas and Israeli negotiators were said to be making progress towards a ceasefire agreement as they held separate meetings with Egyptian mediators in Cairo.
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.
GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/middle_east/2001/israel_and_the_palestinians/default.stm">In depth: Gaza conflict class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7818022.stm">Q&A: Gaza conflict class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/1654510.stm">Who are Hamas? class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7380642.stm">Middle East conflict: History in maps Hamas 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.
On Wednesday, Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil said his movement had presented Egyptian negotiators with a "detailed vision" of how to bring about a ceasefire. Israel wants an end to rockets being fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip and a internationally-supported mechanism to ensure that Hamas can not re-arm in the future.
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. Israel has refused to allow international journalists to enter Gaza without supervision, making it impossible to independently confirm casualty figures.
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.
Israel launched its offensive on the Gaza Strip on 27 December and has refused to allow international journalists to enter Gaza without supervision, making it 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.
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