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| Israel ready to widen Gaza operations, says Netanyahu | Israel ready to widen Gaza operations, says Netanyahu |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the country's military is prepared to extend its operation against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the country's military is prepared to extend its operation against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. |
| His comments came after the head of the military wing of Hamas, Ahmed Said Khalil al-Jabari, was killed. | His comments came after the head of the military wing of Hamas, Ahmed Said Khalil al-Jabari, was killed. |
| He died when when his car was targeted during Israeli air strikes in the territory. | He died when when his car was targeted during Israeli air strikes in the territory. |
| These followed a wave of rocket attacks against Israel from Gaza. | These followed a wave of rocket attacks against Israel from Gaza. |
| "Today we've sent a clear message to Hamas and to other terrorist organisations," Mr Netanyahu said in a televised address. | "Today we've sent a clear message to Hamas and to other terrorist organisations," Mr Netanyahu said in a televised address. |
| "And if there is a need, the Israeli Defence Forces are prepared to widen the operation. We will continue to do everything to defend our citizens." | "And if there is a need, the Israeli Defence Forces are prepared to widen the operation. We will continue to do everything to defend our citizens." |
| Jabari and another Hamas official who died alongside him were among at least nine people killed in Gaza on Wednesday by the Israeli strikes and that number would probably rise, the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, Riyad Mansou, told reporters in New York. | Jabari and another Hamas official who died alongside him were among at least nine people killed in Gaza on Wednesday by the Israeli strikes and that number would probably rise, the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, Riyad Mansou, told reporters in New York. |
| Jabari, who was 46, is the most senior Hamas official to be killed in the Gaza Strip since the major Israeli offensive four years ago. | Jabari, who was 46, is the most senior Hamas official to be killed in the Gaza Strip since the major Israeli offensive four years ago. |
| Outside the hospital to which Jabari's body was taken, angry Gaza residents chanted "retaliation" and "We want you to hit Tel Aviv tonight". | Outside the hospital to which Jabari's body was taken, angry Gaza residents chanted "retaliation" and "We want you to hit Tel Aviv tonight". |
| A number of injured civilians, including children, were seen being taken to hospital in Gaza City. | A number of injured civilians, including children, were seen being taken to hospital in Gaza City. |
| Egyptian anger | Egyptian anger |
| On Wednesday evening, US President Barack Obama spoke to Mr Netanyahu by telephone. | On Wednesday evening, US President Barack Obama spoke to Mr Netanyahu by telephone. |
| Arab League foreign ministers will meet in emergency session on Friday to discuss the escalating violence. | Arab League foreign ministers will meet in emergency session on Friday to discuss the escalating violence. |
| Hamas spokesman Abu Zuhri said: "Israel will regret the moment they even thought of doing this." | Hamas spokesman Abu Zuhri said: "Israel will regret the moment they even thought of doing this." |
| Neighbouring Egypt condemned the strikes, recalled its ambassador to Israel, summoned the Israeli ambassador in Cairo and called for a urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council and the Arab League. | Neighbouring Egypt condemned the strikes, recalled its ambassador to Israel, summoned the Israeli ambassador in Cairo and called for a urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council and the Arab League. |
| The Security Council is meeting in the coming hours behind closed doors to consider the Egyptian request. | |
| The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Cairo, says Egypt's reaction to events in Gaza will be followed closely. | The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Cairo, says Egypt's reaction to events in Gaza will be followed closely. |
| It is the first time violence has reached this pitch of intensity since the events of the Arab Spring brought to power a president drawn from the ranks of the Muslim Brotherhood, the same organisation in which Hamas has its roots. | It is the first time violence has reached this pitch of intensity since the events of the Arab Spring brought to power a president drawn from the ranks of the Muslim Brotherhood, the same organisation in which Hamas has its roots. |
| Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is based in the separate West Bank territory, condemned the Israeli operation. | Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who is based in the separate West Bank territory, condemned the Israeli operation. |
| "President Mahmoud Abbas... warned of the seriousness of the Israeli escalation and demanded an immediate end to the aggression," a statement carried on the official Wafa news agency said. | "President Mahmoud Abbas... warned of the seriousness of the Israeli escalation and demanded an immediate end to the aggression," a statement carried on the official Wafa news agency said. |
| 'Blood on his hands' | 'Blood on his hands' |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an "immediate de-escalation of tensions". | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an "immediate de-escalation of tensions". |
| The United States said it supported Israel's right to self-defence, and condemned militant rocket attacks on southern Israel. | The United States said it supported Israel's right to self-defence, and condemned militant rocket attacks on southern Israel. |
| State Department spokesman Mark Toner added in a statement that "we encourage Israel to continue to take every effort to avoid civilian casualties". | State Department spokesman Mark Toner added in a statement that "we encourage Israel to continue to take every effort to avoid civilian casualties". |
| The British Foreign Office issued a statement saying: "We continue to call on all sides to exercise restraint to prevent a dangerous escalation that would be in no-one's interests." | The British Foreign Office issued a statement saying: "We continue to call on all sides to exercise restraint to prevent a dangerous escalation that would be in no-one's interests." |
| Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokeswoman Lt Col Avital Leibovich said Mr Jabari had "a lot of blood on his hands". | Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokeswoman Lt Col Avital Leibovich said Mr Jabari had "a lot of blood on his hands". |
| She told BBC News that "close to 20" sites in Gaza had been targeted in a "limited" operation, with the strikes aiming to destroy rocket-firing capabilities. | She told BBC News that "close to 20" sites in Gaza had been targeted in a "limited" operation, with the strikes aiming to destroy rocket-firing capabilities. |
| "The operation against Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other organisations has two goals: to protect Israeli civilians and target the terror capability of these organisations," she added. | "The operation against Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other organisations has two goals: to protect Israeli civilians and target the terror capability of these organisations," she added. |
| On its Twitter feed, the Israeli military said 17 rockets fired from Gaza had been successfully intercepted by Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defence system on Wednesday, but one had got through and hit a "southern Israeli city". This appeared to be a reference to Beersheba, where firefighters were seen extinguishing a burning car after a reported rocket strike. | On its Twitter feed, the Israeli military said 17 rockets fired from Gaza had been successfully intercepted by Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defence system on Wednesday, but one had got through and hit a "southern Israeli city". This appeared to be a reference to Beersheba, where firefighters were seen extinguishing a burning car after a reported rocket strike. |
| It also claimed that Hamas's long-range missile capabilities and underground weapons storage facilities had been seriously damaged by Wednesday's strikes. | It also claimed that Hamas's long-range missile capabilities and underground weapons storage facilities had been seriously damaged by Wednesday's strikes. |
| Israel has killed several senior Hamas figures in similar operations, including the movement's founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, in 2004. | Israel has killed several senior Hamas figures in similar operations, including the movement's founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, in 2004. |
| Are you in the region? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in the region? Send us your comments using the form below. |
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