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| Egypt PM Hisham Qandil decries Gaza 'disaster' | Egypt PM Hisham Qandil decries Gaza 'disaster' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Egypt's prime minister has condemned Israeli attacks on Gaza as a "disaster" during a short trip to the territory. | |
| Hisham Qandil, who talked to Hamas leaders in his three-hour visit, said Israel's "aggression" must stop. | |
| Israel mounted a huge assault overnight and Gaza militants continued to launch rockets. Air-raid sirens and an explosion were later heard in Tel Aviv. | |
| At least 20 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed since Israel began its offensive on Wednesday. | At least 20 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed since Israel began its offensive on Wednesday. |
| Militants and civilians, including at least five children, were among the Palestinian dead, Palestinian officials said. | Militants and civilians, including at least five children, were among the Palestinian dead, Palestinian officials said. |
| Two Israeli women and a man died when a rocket fired from Gaza hit a building in the southern town of Kiryat Malachi on Thursday, Israeli officials said. | Two Israeli women and a man died when a rocket fired from Gaza hit a building in the southern town of Kiryat Malachi on Thursday, Israeli officials said. |
| The Israeli army began an initial draft of 16,000 reservists on Friday, after the government authorised the call-up of 30,000. | The Israeli army began an initial draft of 16,000 reservists on Friday, after the government authorised the call-up of 30,000. |
| However, the BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza says there is not yet any sign of a ground offensive. | However, the BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza says there is not yet any sign of a ground offensive. |
| Truce dashed | Truce dashed |
| Mr Qandil visited the Council of Ministers building in Gaza City, and also a hospital treating those wounded in attacks. | Mr Qandil visited the Council of Ministers building in Gaza City, and also a hospital treating those wounded in attacks. |
| "What I am witnessing in Gaza is a disaster and I can't keep quiet. The Israeli aggression must stop," he said. | "What I am witnessing in Gaza is a disaster and I can't keep quiet. The Israeli aggression must stop," he said. |
| But he insisted that Egypt would "spare no effort" in trying to broker a ceasefire. | But he insisted that Egypt would "spare no effort" in trying to broker a ceasefire. |
| Ties between Hamas and Egypt have strengthened since the election of Islamist President Mohammed Mursi earlier this year. | Ties between Hamas and Egypt have strengthened since the election of Islamist President Mohammed Mursi earlier this year. |
| Hamas was formed as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Mr Mursi belongs. | Hamas was formed as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Mr Mursi belongs. |
| Israel had said it would pause the offensive during Mr Qandil's visit, if militants refrained from firing rockets. | Israel had said it would pause the offensive during Mr Qandil's visit, if militants refrained from firing rockets. |
| But shortly after the prime minister arrived, Israeli and Palestinian officials accused each other of violating the temporary truce. | But shortly after the prime minister arrived, Israeli and Palestinian officials accused each other of violating the temporary truce. |
| While Mr Qandil was at the hospital in Gaza, medical workers brought in the bodies of a man and a boy who officials said had been killed in an Israeli air strike moments earlier. | While Mr Qandil was at the hospital in Gaza, medical workers brought in the bodies of a man and a boy who officials said had been killed in an Israeli air strike moments earlier. |
| Ministry building wrecked | Ministry building wrecked |
| Explosions continued in Gaza throughout Thursday night, with huge blasts rocking Gaza City as dawn broke. | Explosions continued in Gaza throughout Thursday night, with huge blasts rocking Gaza City as dawn broke. |
| Witnesses said parts of the Hamas interior ministry building were destroyed in the overnight raids. | Witnesses said parts of the Hamas interior ministry building were destroyed in the overnight raids. |
| Israel said it had targeted dozens of rocket-launching facilities in the coastal territory. | Israel said it had targeted dozens of rocket-launching facilities in the coastal territory. |
| In recent days, militants say they have fired more than 350 rockets from Gaza. | In recent days, militants say they have fired more than 350 rockets from Gaza. |
| Israel said 130 rockets had been intercepted by its Iron Dome missile defence system. | Israel said 130 rockets had been intercepted by its Iron Dome missile defence system. |
| UK Foreign Secretary William Hague called on both sides to "de-escalate" the situation and warned against a ground attack. | UK Foreign Secretary William Hague called on both sides to "de-escalate" the situation and warned against a ground attack. |
| "When Israel has entered into ground invasions in other conflicts, that is when they have lost a good deal of international sympathy and support," he said. | "When Israel has entered into ground invasions in other conflicts, that is when they have lost a good deal of international sympathy and support," he said. |
| In Tel Aviv on Thursday, residents took cover after air-raid sirens alerted them to a missile threat for the first time since the Gulf War in 1991. | In Tel Aviv on Thursday, residents took cover after air-raid sirens alerted them to a missile threat for the first time since the Gulf War in 1991. |
| The armed wing of Islamic Jihad said it had fired an Iranian-built Fajr-5 rocket, which has an estimated range of 75km (45 miles). | The armed wing of Islamic Jihad said it had fired an Iranian-built Fajr-5 rocket, which has an estimated range of 75km (45 miles). |
| Israel said two missiles had landed near Tel Aviv, one hitting an uninhabited area and another which is believed to have landed in the sea. | Israel said two missiles had landed near Tel Aviv, one hitting an uninhabited area and another which is believed to have landed in the sea. |
| Violence escalated after the killing by Israel of Hamas' military leader Ahmed Jabari on Wednesday following a surge in rocket attacks from Gaza. | Violence escalated after the killing by Israel of Hamas' military leader Ahmed Jabari on Wednesday following a surge in rocket attacks from Gaza. |
| Israel had repeatedly carried out air strikes on Gaza, as Palestinian militants fired across the border. | Israel had repeatedly carried out air strikes on Gaza, as Palestinian militants fired across the border. |
| Are you in the region? Please share your experiences using the form below. If you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist, please include your contact telephone number. | Are you in the region? Please share your experiences using the form below. If you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist, please include your contact telephone number. |
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