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Israel Gaza conflict: Netanyahu vows to continue strikes Israel Gaza conflict: Air strike targets Hamas leader
(about 1 hour later)
A Gaza tower block housing news outlets was destroyed in an Israeli strike on Saturday Excavators worked to clear rubble in Gaza City after the new air strikes
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to "continue to respond forcefully" to rocket attacks as conflict with Palestinians in Gaza enters a seventh day. The Israeli military says it has bombed the home of the political leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in a wave of air strikes on the Gaza Strip.
Israeli air strikes in Gaza killed at least three Palestinians early on Sunday, health officials said. It released video of an exploding bomb which it said had hit the home of Yehiya Sinwar, the group's overall leader in the territory.
Palestinian militants fired rockets towards Tel Aviv, causing people there to flee to bomb shelters. Israeli air strikes in Gaza killed at least two Palestinians early on Sunday, the seventh day of hostilities.
The international community has called for an end to the escalating conflict. Militants fired more rockets at Israel, sending people fleeing for shelter.
On Saturday, US President Joe Biden phoned Mr Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to express concern about the situation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to "continue to respond forcefully" to rocket attacks, amid calls from the international community to end the escalating conflict.
A UN Security Council meeting is set to take place later on Sunday.A UN Security Council meeting is set to take place later on Sunday.
Since the fighting began on Monday at least 148 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian officials, and Israel has reported 10 dead, including two children. Israel says dozens of militants are among the dead in Gaza, while Palestinian health officials say their death toll includes 41 children.
Speaking in a televised address late on Saturday, Mr Netanyahu said the strikes would continue for "as long as necessary" and that everything possible was being done to limit civilian casualties.
"The party that bears the guilt for this confrontation is not us, it's those attacking us," said Mr Netanyahu.
The Israel-Palestinian conflict explainedThe Israel-Palestinian conflict explained
Thousands protest in London over Gaza violenceThousands protest in London over Gaza violence
US President Joe Biden phoned Mr Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to express concern about the situation on Saturday.
Since the fighting began on Monday at least 141 people have been killed in Gaza, including 39 children and 22 women, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. Israel says dozens of militants are among the dead.
Ten people, including two children, have been killed by militant attacks on Israel, Israeli officials say.
The flare-up of violence over the last six days came after weeks of increasing Israeli-Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem, which culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas - the Palestinian militant group that runs Gaza - began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.The flare-up of violence over the last six days came after weeks of increasing Israeli-Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem, which culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas - the Palestinian militant group that runs Gaza - began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.
How did the fighting escalate on Saturday? How heavy were the overnight bombardments?
Ten members of one family were killed by an Israeli air strike at a refugee camp west of Gaza City. Israel's military said it had struck the homes of both Yehiya Sinwar and his brother Muhammad Sinwar, whom it described as head of logistics and manpower for Hamas.
A five-month-old baby, Omar Al-Hadidi, was the only survivor, after his mother, four siblings, aunt and four cousins died. Both residences had, it said, "served as military infrastructure" for Hamas.
Omar, five months old, was the sole survivor of a strike that hit his family's home Yehiya Sinwar (file photo)
The baby's father, Mohammad Al-Hadidi, was not at home at the time. "There were no rockets there, just women and children, no rockets, just peaceful children celebrating [Muslim festival] Eid, what have they done to deserve this?" he told Reuters news agency. Local sources confirmed for media that the Hamas leader's home had been bombed. There were no immediate reports about the fate of the two brothers.
A doctor treating Omar said: "He was in a bad condition. His thigh bone is broken and he has bruises all over his body but thankfully after first inspection he is stable." Multiple air strikes rocked Gaza City during the night, with dozens of people reported missing under the rubble of homes, the BBC's Rushdi Abualouf said.
"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," he said on Twitter.
Mothers fear for their childrenMothers fear for their children
What is Hamas?What is Hamas?
How Israel's Iron Dome missile shield worksHow Israel's Iron Dome missile shield works
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Palestinian militants had launched 278 rockets from Gaza, with homes hit in the southern cities of Ashdod, Beersheba and Sderot. "The building in which I live in [the] western part of the city shook like an earthquake," he said. "A hysterical state of chaos, children and women in the building that houses more than 200 people screaming."
The site of the direct rocket hit in Ramat Gan, where an Israeli man was killed Some 120 rockets were launched by militants in Gaza against southern and central Israel overnight, the Israeli military said. There were no reports of serious injuries.
The IDF also said "many dozens" of rockets that crossed into Israel had been intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system. What are the prospects for a ceasefire?
A rocket hit a street in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, killing a man. He was reportedly hit by shrapnel in his apartment. Blaming the militants for the conflict. Mr Netanyahu said strikes would continue for "as long as necessary" and everything possible was being done to limit civilian casualties.
What happened to the Gaza tower block? On Saturday, the Israeli military blew up a tower block in Gaza City used by international media after issuing warnings to evacuate it.
Earlier on Saturday, an Israeli air strike destroyed a high-rise building housing media organisations, including The Associated Press and Al-Jazeera, plus a number of offices and apartments. A Gaza tower block housing news outlets was destroyed in an Israeli strike on Saturday
In a statement released shortly afterwards, the Israeli military said the building had housed military assets belonging to Hamas. The building's landlord has denied this. President Biden told Mr Netanyahu he continued to support Israel's right to defend itself. He expressed concern over deaths on both sides and called for journalists to be protected.
UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres said he was "deeply disturbed" by the strike on the building. Speaking to President Abbas, the US leader said he was committed to "strengthening the US-Palestinian partnership". He also said the Hamas rocket fire into Israel had to stop.
"The secretary-general reminds all sides that any indiscriminate targeting of civilian and media structures violates international law and must be avoided at all costs," his spokesman said. President Abbas, who is based in the occupied West Bank, has little power in Gaza but the US will not speak to Hamas, which it regards as a terrorist organisation.
The remains of the multi-storey Al-Jalaa tower, which was home to various media organisations
The Associated Press (AP) said the block had been hit roughly an hour after Israeli forces ordered people to evacuate.
The news organisation's CEO, Gary Pruitt, said: "This is an incredibly disturbing development. We narrowly avoided a terrible loss of life. A dozen AP journalists and freelancers were inside the building and thankfully we were able to evacuate them in time."
What was said in Biden's phone calls?
President Biden told Prime Minister Netanyahu he continued to support Israel's right to defend itself, the White House said. He expressed concern over deaths on both sides and, following the tower-block strike, called for journalists to be protected.
Mr Biden also spoke, for the first time since taking office, with President Abbas, telling him he was committed to "strengthening the US-Palestinian partnership". He also said the Hamas rocket fire into Israel had to stop.
A major foreign policy headache for Biden
President Abbas, who is based in the occupied West Bank, has little power in Hamas-run Gaza but the US will not speak to Hamas, regarded as a terrorist organisation.
Mr Biden told both leaders he remained committed to finding a two-state solution to the conflict.Mr Biden told both leaders he remained committed to finding a two-state solution to the conflict.
A major foreign policy headache for Biden
US envoy Hady Amir is in Tel Aviv to take part in talks with Israeli, Palestinian and UN officials, and reinforce what US diplomats said was the need for a "sustainable calm".US envoy Hady Amir is in Tel Aviv to take part in talks with Israeli, Palestinian and UN officials, and reinforce what US diplomats said was the need for a "sustainable calm".
Ahead of the Security Council meeting, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reminded all sides "that any indiscriminate targeting of civilian and media structures violates international law and must be avoided at all costs".
Pro-Palestinian protests were held across the world on Saturday, from Europe to the Americas. In central Paris, police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse an illegal demonstration while in London, nine police officers were hurt during clashes with protesters outside the Israeli embassy.