This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7839863.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UN chief makes crucial Gaza trip UN chief makes crucial Gaza trip
(41 minutes later)
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in Gaza to see for himself the scale of the damage done by Israel's three-week offensive.The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in Gaza to see for himself the scale of the damage done by Israel's three-week offensive.
A UN spokesman said Mr Ban wanted to express solidarity with the people of Gaza in their suffering.A UN spokesman said Mr Ban wanted to express solidarity with the people of Gaza in their suffering.
Thousands have been left homeless and Palestinian officials warned it could cost $1.9bn to rebuild the territory.Thousands have been left homeless and Palestinian officials warned it could cost $1.9bn to rebuild the territory.
Israeli troops are expected to complete their pull-out later, if the current ceasefire holds.Israeli troops are expected to complete their pull-out later, if the current ceasefire holds.
There have been low-level skirmishes - with the Israeli navy firing shells into Gaza in what it said was a deterrent measure. But there have been several violent incidents during the day.
Reports claimed that mortar shells were later fired into Israel from Gaza. The Israeli navy fired shells into Gaza in what it called a deterrent measure, and reports claimed that a mortar shell was later fired into Israel from Gaza.
CONFLICT IN FIGURES More than 1,300 Palestinians killedThirteen Israelis killedMore than 4,000 buildings destroyed in Gaza, more than 20,000 severely damaged50,800 Gazans homeless and 400,000 without running water In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in mapsCONFLICT IN FIGURES More than 1,300 Palestinians killedThirteen Israelis killedMore than 4,000 buildings destroyed in Gaza, more than 20,000 severely damaged50,800 Gazans homeless and 400,000 without running water In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps
Two children were killed near Gaza City in an explosion of ordnance left behind by the Israeli army, according to Palestinian medical officials.
And in the West Bank, an Israeli man was shot and seriously wounded while driving near the Kochav Hashachar settlement.And in the West Bank, an Israeli man was shot and seriously wounded while driving near the Kochav Hashachar settlement.
A previously unknown group calling itself the al-Bashair Army told the Palestinian news agency, Maan, it had carried out the attackA previously unknown group calling itself the al-Bashair Army told the Palestinian news agency, Maan, it had carried out the attack
But Israeli ground forces have continued their withdrawal.But Israeli ground forces have continued their withdrawal.
Israeli political sources say the military aims to have withdrawn before Barack Obama's inauguration as US president at 1700 GMT.Israeli political sources say the military aims to have withdrawn before Barack Obama's inauguration as US president at 1700 GMT.
Mr Ban became the first senior leader to visit Gaza since the conflict began, entering the territory through the crossing at Erez and driving to Gaza City.Mr Ban became the first senior leader to visit Gaza since the conflict began, entering the territory through the crossing at Erez and driving to Gaza City.
The BBC's Laura Trevelyan, who is travelling with Mr Ban, said UN staff in Gaza City were viewing his arrival as a huge boost to morale.The BBC's Laura Trevelyan, who is travelling with Mr Ban, said UN staff in Gaza City were viewing his arrival as a huge boost to morale.
Our correspondent added that she had seen some Hamas protests on the way to Gaza City, but the atmosphere in the city itself was calm.Our correspondent added that she had seen some Hamas protests on the way to Gaza City, but the atmosphere in the city itself was calm.
Mr Ban will later travel to the southern Israeli town of Sderot, which has been one of the main targets of Palestinian rocket attacks in recent years.Mr Ban will later travel to the southern Israeli town of Sderot, which has been one of the main targets of Palestinian rocket attacks in recent years.
Infrastructure damagedInfrastructure damaged
Earlier, the UN's top humanitarian official, John Holmes, said hundreds of millions of dollars of aid would be needed immediately to help Gaza's 1.4 million people.Earlier, the UN's top humanitarian official, John Holmes, said hundreds of millions of dollars of aid would be needed immediately to help Gaza's 1.4 million people.
Mr Holmes said some neighbourhoods had been almost totally destroyed and many homes reduced to rubble during the Israeli offensive, which ended on Saturday.Mr Holmes said some neighbourhoods had been almost totally destroyed and many homes reduced to rubble during the Israeli offensive, which ended on Saturday.
GAZA LATEST In pictures: Devastation in GazaNew Israel phosphorus accusationGaza doctor's loss grips IsraelisAgencies rush aid to Gaza StripGAZA LATEST In pictures: Devastation in GazaNew Israel phosphorus accusationGaza doctor's loss grips IsraelisAgencies rush aid to Gaza Strip
While 100,000 people had their water supply restored on Sunday, 400,000 still had no water, he said.While 100,000 people had their water supply restored on Sunday, 400,000 still had no water, he said.
Separately, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said on Monday that 4,100 homes were totally destroyed and 17,000 others damaged during the conflict. Separately, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics estimated that the overall physical damage so far amounted to about $1.9bn (£1.4bn).
About 1,500 factories and workshops, 20 mosques, 31 security installations and 10 water or sewage pipes were also damaged, it added. The UN has called for Israel to open Gaza's borders to allow in construction materials, but so far only basic humanitarian supplies have been let in.
The bureau estimated that the overall physical damage so far amounted to about $1.9bn (£1.4bn), including about $200m (£140m) of damage to infrastructure. Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said any further opening of the border depended on the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held by Palestinian militants since June 2006.
"If there is something Hamas wants from Israel, there is a person we want to have - Gilad Shalit," the AFP news agency quoted her as saying.
"The one thing is linked to the other and the two cannot be separated."
Meanwhile, Arab foreign ministers meeting in Kuwait have failed to issue a statement on the Gaza situation because they disagreed over who was to blame for the conflict.
Egypt said Hamas had invited the attacks, while Syria said Israel should be declared a terrorist entity.
Israel called a ceasefire on Saturday, saying it had met its war aims. Hamas later declared its own truce, with one of its leaders claiming a "great victory" over Israel.Israel called a ceasefire on Saturday, saying it had met its war aims. Hamas later declared its own truce, with one of its leaders claiming a "great victory" over Israel.
Palestinian medical sources say at least 1,300 Palestinians were killed, nearly a third of them children, and 5,500 injured during the conflict. Thirteen Israelis, including three civilians, were killed.Palestinian medical sources say at least 1,300 Palestinians were killed, nearly a third of them children, and 5,500 injured during the conflict. Thirteen Israelis, including three civilians, were killed.