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Urgent push for Gaza ceasefire Urgent push for Gaza ceasefire
(about 1 hour later)
Diplomatic activity is intensifying over a possible ceasefire to end Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.Diplomatic activity is intensifying over a possible ceasefire to end Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza.
An Israeli government spokesman said he hoped the conflict was "entering its final act" as talks were being held in Egypt and Washington. An Israeli government spokesman said he hoped the conflict was "entering its final act", as high-level talks were being held in Egypt and Washington.
Medics said they recovered 23 bodies from rubble in Gaza City as the Israeli bombardment continued. Friday also saw rockets fired from Gaza into Israel. Medics said they recovered 23 bodies from rubble in Gaza City as the Israeli bombardment continued. Militants are continuing to fire rockets into Israel.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Israel to end the fighting now.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Israel to end the fighting now.
"I would like to see an immediate ceasefire," he said after meeting Palestinian Authority leaders in the West Bank."I would like to see an immediate ceasefire," he said after meeting Palestinian Authority leaders in the West Bank.
A deal between Israel and Hamas to stop the conflict may be possible within the next few days, he said.
See map of Gaza City and areaSee map of Gaza City and area
Hundreds of mourners took to the streets of Gaza City on Thursday for the funeral of top Hamas leader Said Siyam. A deal between Israel and Hamas to stop the conflict may be possible within the next few days, he 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 in Gaza City was bombed on Thursday. The body of Said Siyam was carried through Gaza before burial But Israel insists any ceasefire has to be "durable and sustainable".
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. Ban Ki-Moon: 'The fighting must stop'
There has been a similar call by the Palestinian Authority to the followers of the rival Palestinian faction, Fatah. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said they would not accept Israeli conditions for a ceasefire.
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 against its people.
Thirteen Israelis - three of them civilians - have died, while 233 soldiers have been wounded, the Israeli army says.Thirteen Israelis - three of them civilians - have died, while 233 soldiers have been wounded, the Israeli army says.
Patients flee fire Hamas funeral
Israeli military officials said 40 overnight attacks targeted smuggling tunnels, launching points, weaponry storages, two Hamas stations and a militants' training camp. Tens of thousands of mourners took to the streets of Gaza City for the funeral of a top Hamas leader Said Siyam.
The diplomacy now is in high gear. Hopefully we're entering the final act Mark RegevIsraeli government spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7830302.stm">Gaza's medical crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7830482.stm">Voices from Gaza City class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7831757.stm">Bowen diary: Damascus to Jerusalem Mr 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 in Gaza City was bombed on Thursday. The body of Said Siyam was carried through Gaza before burial
A BBC producer in Gaza City, Hamada Abuqammar, said Israeli artillery continued to be fired even during the daily humanitarian ceasefire, although the bombardment was not as intense as Thursday. The Israeli army has closed all access to the West Bank for the next two days following a call by Hamas for all Palestinians to observe what it called a day of wrath, by staging anti-Israeli protests at Friday prayers.
The Palestinian Authority issued a similar call to action to followers of Fatah, a rival Palestinian faction to Hamas.
Israeli military officials said 40 overnight air strikes targeted smuggling tunnels, rocket launching points, weapons stores and a militants' training camp.
The bodies of 23 people were recovered in the Tel al-Hawa district of Gaza City on Friday, medics said.
A BBC producer in Gaza City, Hamada Abuqammar, said Israeli artillery continued to be fired even during the daily humanitarian ceasefire, although the bombardment was not as intense as on Thursday.
He said the Quds hospital was now empty, after it had to be evacuated overnight because of a fire caused by a tank shell.He said the Quds hospital was now empty, after it had to be evacuated overnight because of a fire caused by a tank shell.
The evacuees included sick and wounded patients on stretchers and wheelchairs. The diplomacy now is in high gear. Hopefully we're entering the final act Mark RegevIsraeli government spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7830302.stm">Gaza's medical crisis class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7832813.stm">Voices from Gaza City class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7833273.stm">Gaza and West Bank: Growing split The evacuees included sick and wounded patients carried out on stretchers and in wheelchairs.
The bodies of 23 people were recovered in the Tel al-Hawa district of Gaza City following Thursday's fighting, medics said. The UN headquarters in Gaza was also hit overnight.
Rockets continue to be fired from Gaza into Israel. Around 10 were launched on Friday but caused no injuries, the Israeli army said. Hundreds of Gazans had been seeking refuge in the compound when it was attacked by Israeli shells, causing a fire that destroyed vital food supplies.
Meanwhile, the senior UN official in Gaza, John Ging, has described as "total nonsense" claims by the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that militants had used the UN headquarters in Gaza to fire on Israeli troops. The senior UN official in Gaza, John Ging, described as "total nonsense" claims by the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that militants were using the compound to fire on Israeli troops.
Hundreds of Gazans had been seeking refuge in the compound when it was attacked by Israeli shells on Thursday, causing a fire that destroyed vital food supplies. Meanwhile, rockets continue to be fired from Gaza into Israel. Around 10 were launched on Friday but caused no injuries, the Israeli army said.
Truce offerTruce offer
Israeli ministers had late-night talks on Egypt's latest mediation bid.Israeli ministers had late-night talks on Egypt's latest mediation bid.
GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps Israeli envoy Amos Gilad returned to Cairo on Friday, having briefed Mr Olmert and other officials overnight on his previous day's talks with Egyptian officials.
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. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has gone to Washington for talks, aimed at formalising an agreement with the US to help prevent Hamas smuggling arms into Gaza across the border with Egypt - a key Israeli demand for ending its offensive.
Israeli envoy Amos Gilad returned to Cairo on Friday, having briefed Mr Olmert and other officials overnight on his previous day's talks with Egyptian officials.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has gone to Washington for talks, aimed at formalising an agreement with the US to help prevent Hamas smuggling in arms, a key Israeli demand for ending its three-week assault on Gaza.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC that Israel wanted a prompt end to the violence.Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC that Israel wanted a prompt end to the violence.
"The diplomacy now is in high gear. Hopefully we're entering the final act. We want this to be over as soon as possible," he said."The diplomacy now is in high gear. Hopefully we're entering the final act. We want this to be over as soon as possible," he said.
"The minute we can be sure that the solution will not be a band aid, that after a few days of quiet we won't have more rockets on Israeli civilians, the minute we can understand that that situation will be a sustained peace, then we're going to go for it.""The minute we can be sure that the solution will not be a band aid, that after a few days of quiet we won't have more rockets on Israeli civilians, the minute we can understand that that situation will be a sustained peace, then we're going to go for it."
Hamas is reported to be offering a year-long truce if Israel withdraws from Gaza and lifts its blockade.
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.
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