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Israel Gaza conflict: Netanyahu says strikes to 'continue at full force' Israel Gaza conflict: Netanyahu says strikes to 'continue at full force'
(about 4 hours later)
Excavators worked to clear rubble in Gaza City after the new air strikes Homes and buildings destroyed in Israel and Gaza
Israel's military operation against Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza will continue "with full force", Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.Israel's military operation against Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza will continue "with full force", Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.
"We are acting now, for as long as necessary, to restore calm... It will take time," Mr Netanyahu warned."We are acting now, for as long as necessary, to restore calm... It will take time," Mr Netanyahu warned.
Gaza officials said 42 people, including 16 women and 10 children, died in the latest Israeli air strikes.Gaza officials said 42 people, including 16 women and 10 children, died in the latest Israeli air strikes.
Ten people, including two children, have been killed in rocket attacks on Israel since Monday, Israel said.Ten people, including two children, have been killed in rocket attacks on Israel since Monday, Israel said.
The overall death toll in Gaza now stands at 188 people, including 55 children and 33 women, with 1,230 injured, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. Israel says dozens of militants are among the dead. The overall death toll in Gaza now stands at 197 people, including 58 children and 34 women, with 1,235 injured, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. Israel says dozens of militants are among the dead.
Israel's military says it has been targeting leaders and infrastructure linked to Hamas.
Hamas launched a new barrage of rockets towards southern Israel on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting, with international mediators hoping to broker a ceasefire.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres opened the meeting by describing the violence as "utterly appalling" and said the fighting must stop immediately.
Follow live updatesFollow live updates
The Israel-Palestinian conflict explainedThe Israel-Palestinian conflict explained
The Israeli air strikes - the deadliest attack in the conflict so far - hit a busy street just after midnight on Sunday. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting, with international mediators hoping to broker a ceasefire.
Palestinian rescue workers have been working through the rubble of at least three destroyed buildings, pulling out bodies and searching for survivors. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres opened the meeting by describing the violence as "utterly appalling" and said the fighting must stop immediately.
Rockets launched by Hamas have hit Ashkelon, southern IsraelRockets launched by Hamas have hit Ashkelon, southern Israel
This young girl was rescued from rubble in Gaza City on Sunday Sunday was the deadliest day so far
"I have never covered air strikes with such intensity, explosions are everywhere in Gaza, there are difficulties in communicating with officials to find out where the strikes are," said the BBC's Rushdi Abualouf in Gaza. The Israeli air strikes hit a busy street in Gaza just after midnight on Sunday, causing at least three buildings to collapse and dozens of deaths.
"The building in which I live in [the] western part of the city shook like an earthquake," he wrote on Twitter. "A hysterical state of chaos, children and women in the building that houses more than 200 people screaming." Hamas launched barrage of rockets towards southern Israel overnight and during the afternoon.
Israel's military said it struck the homes of both Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and his brother Muhammad Sinwar, whom it described as head of logistics and manpower for the movement. Millions of Israelis scrambled to safe rooms or shelters as sirens went off. Palestinians also tried to take precautions, but in the densely packed and poorly resourced Gaza Strip, many had nowhere to go.
Yahya Sinwar pictured in Gaza City in 2019 Riyad Eshkuntana told Reuters news agency he put his daughters to sleep in a room of his house that he thought was the furthest from the explosions. Only one of his daughters, Suzy, six, survived the night. His wife and three other children died.
Both residences had, it said, "served as military infrastructure" for Hamas. "I ran to check upon the girls," said Mr Eshkuntana. "My wife jumped she hugged the girls to take them out from the room, then a second airstrike hit the room... The ceilings were destroyed and I was under the rubble."
Local sources confirmed to media that the Hamas leader's home in the Gaza town of Khan Younis had been bombed. There were no immediate reports about the fate of the two brothers. The Israeli military later said it had been conducted a strikes on a militant tunnel system in the area. The tunnels' collapsed caused the houses above to collapse as well, leading to unintended civilian casualties, it said.
Suzy, six, was rescued from rubble in Gaza City on Sunday, but five members of her family died
Israel's military says it has been targeting leaders and infrastructure linked to Hamas.
It said it had also struck the homes of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and his brother Muhammad Sinwar, whom it described as head of logistics and manpower for the movement.
It was unlikely they were at home at the time of the strikes, according to the Associated Press news agency.It was unlikely they were at home at the time of the strikes, according to the Associated Press news agency.
Gazan rescue workers spent the day trying to rescue people from under the debris from the strikes.
The Palestinian health ministry said a doctor was among the dead: Dr Ayman Abu Al-Ouf, head of internal medicine at Shifa hospital and part of the coronavirus team.
What is Hamas?What is Hamas?
How Israel's Iron Dome missile shield worksHow Israel's Iron Dome missile shield works
Boris Johnson condemns 'shameful' anti-Semitism in videoBoris Johnson condemns 'shameful' anti-Semitism in video
Shortly after noon, rockets were launched by militants in Gaza against Ashkelon, Ashdod, Netivot and other parts of central and southern Israel, according to Israeli media. There were no reports of casualties. In Israel, Hamas rockets hit Ashkelon, Ashdod, Netivot and other parts of central and southern Israel. There were no reports of casualties.
Israelis clean up a rocket-damaged synagogue in Ashkelon
The country's Iron Dome defence system has intercepted many of them.
The Israeli military said it had seen the highest ever concentration of rocket attacks on its territory during the past week.The Israeli military said it had seen the highest ever concentration of rocket attacks on its territory during the past week.
On Sunday evening, Israeli police said there had been a car-ramming incident in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. The country's Iron Dome defence system has intercepted many of them. But some caused damage to cars and buildings, including the Yad Michael synagogue in Ashkelon, where a hole was blasted through the wall just before an evening service for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. No-one was reported hurt and locals moved quickly to clear up the damage so the service could go ahead, according to the Times of Israel.
An Israeli police spokesman said the driver had been shot dead and four Israeli officers injured. Israelis clean up a rocket-damaged synagogue in Ashkelon
A car-ramming incident also took place in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalemon Sunday evening. An Israeli police spokesman said the driver had been shot dead and four Israeli officers injured.
The threat to evict Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah to make way for Israeli settlers sparked the current round of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.The threat to evict Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah to make way for Israeli settlers sparked the current round of violence between Israel and the Palestinians.
Those tensions culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. On Monday, Hamas began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes. Those tensions culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews, and, on Monday, Hamas began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.
How likely is a ceasefire?How likely is a ceasefire?
By Paul Adams, BBC diplomatic correspondentBy Paul Adams, BBC diplomatic correspondent
Is Israel's military operation in Gaza, dubbed "Guardian of the Walls", nearing its conclusion?Is Israel's military operation in Gaza, dubbed "Guardian of the Walls", nearing its conclusion?
Not obviously. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks are continuing with "full force" and will "take time".Not obviously. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks are continuing with "full force" and will "take time".
In a news conference on Sunday, he admitted there were "pressures" but thanked US President Joe Biden, in particular, for his support.In a news conference on Sunday, he admitted there were "pressures" but thanked US President Joe Biden, in particular, for his support.
Mr Biden's envoy, Hady Amr, has been in Israel since Friday, discussing the crisis with Israeli officials.Mr Biden's envoy, Hady Amr, has been in Israel since Friday, discussing the crisis with Israeli officials.
Unusually, at the end of a week that has also seen an alarming spate of intercommunal violence in mixed Jewish-Arab cities, he also met Israeli Arab leaders.
Since the US, like Israel and many other countries, regards Hamas as a terrorist organisation, Mr Amr will not be meeting one of the two warring parties.Since the US, like Israel and many other countries, regards Hamas as a terrorist organisation, Mr Amr will not be meeting one of the two warring parties.
Any messages for Hamas will have to go through traditional interlocutors, such as Egypt or Qatar.Any messages for Hamas will have to go through traditional interlocutors, such as Egypt or Qatar.
Local reports suggest Hamas has been offering some kind of ceasefire for several days, only to be rebuffed by Israel, which clearly wants to inflict as much damage as it can on the militants before the fighting is finally brought to a close.Local reports suggest Hamas has been offering some kind of ceasefire for several days, only to be rebuffed by Israel, which clearly wants to inflict as much damage as it can on the militants before the fighting is finally brought to a close.
These episodes follow a familiar pattern: Israel presses home its undoubted military advantage until the international outcry over civilian casualties, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, demand that the operation end.These episodes follow a familiar pattern: Israel presses home its undoubted military advantage until the international outcry over civilian casualties, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, demand that the operation end.
In Israel's estimation, we have not reached that point yet.In Israel's estimation, we have not reached that point yet.
A Gaza tower block housing news outlets was destroyed in an Israeli strike on Saturday What happened during the UN meeting?
The 15-member UN Security Council has been unable to agree on a public statement in recent days and none was forthcoming after the meeting.
The United States - a strong ally of Israel - is said to be the hold-out, believing it would be unhelpful in the diplomatic process.
In Sunday's meeting, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the US was ready to offer support "should the parties seek a ceasefire" and had been working tirelessly to try to bring an end to the conflict.
Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, spoke of Saturday's attack on a refugee camp, which killed 10 members of the same family, leaving a five-month-old survivor to be pulled from the rubble. "Israel often asks us to put ourselves in their shoes," he said, "but they are not wearing shoes. They're wearing military boots."
In response, Israel's Permanent Representative, Gilad Erdan, cited the death of a 10-year-old Arab-Israeli girl, killed by a Hamas rocket. He insisted Israel was mounting what he called "a heroic effort" to "dismantle terrorist infrastructure and avoid civilian casualties".
Mr Erdan ended by urging the Security Council to unequivocally condemn Hamas but warned that Israel would take all steps necessary to protect itself.
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