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Urgent push for Gaza ceasefire Urgent push for Gaza ceasefire
(about 1 hour later)
Diplomatic activity has intensified in the Middle East and the US over the terms of a possible ceasefire to halt Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. Diplomatic activity is intensifying in the Middle East and the US over the terms of a possible ceasefire to halt Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.
Israeli ministers had late-night talks on Egypt's latest mediation bid and, while no decision was taken, an Israeli envoy is due back in Cairo shortly. Israel's envoy is heading back to Egypt and the country's foreign minister is in Washington to discuss the conflict.
Hamas is reported to be offering a year-long truce if Israel withdraws from Gaza and lifts its blockade. Israeli military officials said Israel attacked about 40 targets across Gaza overnight. Casualties a hospital in Gaza City had to flee because of fire.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has gone to Washington for talks. An Israeli spokesman said he hoped the conflict was in its "final act".
She is due to discuss how to stop Hamas smuggling arms into Gaza, a key Israeli demand.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he is optimistic about a ceasefire deal being reached but added that it might take a few days yet.
Israeli military officials said Israel attacked about 40 targets in the Gaza Strip overnight - including smuggling tunnels, launching points, weaponry storages, two Hamas stations and a militant's training camp.
Casualties in a hospital in Gaza City had to flee the building overnight as a fire reportedly caused by Israeli shelling engulfed the building.
Health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza say at least 1,105 Palestinians have been killed and 5,100 wounded since Israel launched an operation on 27 December to end rocket attacks on its territory.Health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza say at least 1,105 Palestinians have been killed and 5,100 wounded since Israel launched an operation on 27 December to end rocket attacks on its territory.
Thirteen Israelis - three of them civilians - have died, while 233 soldiers have been wounded, the Israeli army says.
Day of wrath
Israeli ministers had late-night talks on Egypt's latest mediation bid as envoys head for Cairo and Washington.
Israeli envoy Amos Gilad is to return to Cairo on Friday after arriving back to brief Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other officials on his daylong talks with Egyptian officials there.
Hopefully we're in the final act Mark RegevIsraeli government spokesman
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has gone to Washington for talks. These are meant to formalise an agreement with the US to help prevent Hamas smuggling in arms, a key Israeli demand for ending its three-week assault on Gaza.
"Hopefully we're in the final act when we are briefed by [Amos] Gilad and [Tzipi] Livni," Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said.
"There may be a full security cabinet meeting and decisions will stem from that," Mr Regev said.
Hamas is reported to be offering a year-long truce if Israel withdraws from Gaza and lifts its blockade.
See map of Gaza City and areaSee map of Gaza City and area
On Thursday, an Israeli air strike on Gaza City killed one of the Strip's top Hamas leaders, Said Siyam. Mussa Abu Marzuk, the Damascus-based deputy head of the militant group's politburo, said the offer was made by a Hamas delegation to Egyptian authorities during talks in Cairo.
Thirteen Israelis - including three civilians - have died, while 233 soldiers have been wounded, the Israeli army says. One diplomat said that there is now "feverish telephone tag", in an attempt to reach agreement on a ceasefire, the BBC's Tim Franks reports from Jerusalem.
Last-minute deal UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says has said his is optimistic about a ceasefire deal being reached but added that it might take a few days yet.
Israeli envoy Amos Gilad has been ordered to return to Cairo on Friday after arriving back to brief Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other officials on his daylong talks with Egyptian officials there. Patients flee fire
Israeli military officials said the overnight attacks targeted smuggling tunnels, launching points, weaponry storages, two Hamas stations and a militants' training camp.
A BBC producer in Gaza City, Hamada Abuqammar, reports that Israeli tanks are back in the Tel al-Hawa area to the south of the city.
He reports shelling and gunfire, but the clashes appear to be less intense than on Thursday.
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
He discussed a possible ceasefire with the Egyptians on Thursday while Hamas outlined its own proposals in Cairo. The Israeli army has closed all access to the West Bank for the next two days following a call by Hamas for Palestinians to observe what it called a day of wrath, by staging anti-Israeli protests at Friday prayers.
Mussa Abu Marzuk, the Damascus-based deputy head of Hamas's powerful politburo, confirmed for AFP news agency that Hamas was offering a one-year, renewable truce. There has been a similar call by the Palestinian Authority to the followers of the rival Palestinian faction, Fatah.
"We are waiting for an answer from Egypt after they talk to Amos Gilad," he added. Hundreds of people, including sick and wounded patients on stretchers and wheelchairs, fled the Quds hospital overnight on Thursday.
Tzipi Livni's visit to Washington is meant to formalise an agreement with the US to help prevent Hamas smuggling in arms, the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from the US capital. A fire broke after it had been hit by a tank shell earlier in the day. An AFP reporter on the scene reported panic and chaos as patients were evacuated form the hospital into the cold night amid gunfire.
The accord would supplement any ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hamas in Cairo.
Diplomats say the accord would deal with the issue of arms-smuggling from a broader perspective, aiming to stop weapons from even reaching the border between Egypt and Gaza.
It is a last-minute deal crafted in the final hours of an outgoing Bush administration but one that could give the US a prominent and lasting role in the truce, if it is achieved, our correspondent says.
'Patients flee'
Israeli troops and tanks moved closer to the heart of Gaza City on Thursday, engaging in fierce gun battles with Hamas fighters.Israeli troops and tanks moved closer to the heart of Gaza City on Thursday, engaging in fierce gun battles with Hamas fighters.
Reports from the al-Quds hospital in the city's Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood say that scores of patients were evacuated overnight to escape a blaze. Israeli shells set alight part of the local headquarters of the UN relief agency Unrwa.
Patients wounded in the fighting could be seen struggling to get out of their beds only to head out into an icy night pierced by gunfire, an AFP photographer reports.
At least three babies in incubators and three people on life support were wheeled out into the flame-lit streets, the photographer added.
Earlier on Thursday, Israeli shells set alight part of the local headquarters of the UN relief agency Unrwa.
Mr Olmert apologised but said troops had been responding to shots from gunmen at the compound.Mr Olmert apologised but said troops had been responding to shots from gunmen at the compound.
Said Siyam, who controlled thousands of Hamas security troops in Gaza, died along with his son, brother and two other Hamas officials when his brother's house was bombed. Also on Thursday, an Israeli air strike on Gaza City killed one of the Strip's top Hamas leaders, Said Siyam.
Speaking after talks in Jerusalem with Israeli leaders, Ban Ki-moon said he hoped a ceasefire was possible. Siyam, who controlled thousands of Hamas security troops in Gaza, died along with his son, brother and two other Hamas officials when his brother's house was bombed.
"I am optimistic now because I think there is no other choice for us," he told the BBC.
"This kind of agreement can be done now and I think now there is good progress in Egypt."
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