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| Israeli air strike hits Hamas PM's office | Israeli air strike hits Hamas PM's office |
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| Israeli air strikes have hit the office building of the Hamas prime minister in Gaza, amid warnings of a dangerous escalation in the conflict with up to 75,000 Israeli reservists mobilised for a possible ground invasion. | Israeli air strikes have hit the office building of the Hamas prime minister in Gaza, amid warnings of a dangerous escalation in the conflict with up to 75,000 Israeli reservists mobilised for a possible ground invasion. |
| An explosion and air raid sirens were heard over the Israeli port city of Tel Aviv as Palestinian militants in Gaza continued to fire rocket salvoes across the border four days after Israel launched an air offensive. | An explosion and air raid sirens were heard over the Israeli port city of Tel Aviv as Palestinian militants in Gaza continued to fire rocket salvoes across the border four days after Israel launched an air offensive. |
| Israel said it had struck more than 800 targets in the Gaza Strip, with 200 air strikes over Friday night and Saturday morning. Gaza officials said about 500 rockets had been launched so far at Israel, according to Associated Press. | Israel said it had struck more than 800 targets in the Gaza Strip, with 200 air strikes over Friday night and Saturday morning. Gaza officials said about 500 rockets had been launched so far at Israel, according to Associated Press. |
| Hamas, the Islamist group that runs the Gaza Strip, said an Israeli air strike had wrecked the office building of its prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, a day after a visit from Egypt's prime minister. The police headquarters in Gaza City was also hit, setting off a blaze that engulfed nearby houses and cars. | Hamas, the Islamist group that runs the Gaza Strip, said an Israeli air strike had wrecked the office building of its prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, a day after a visit from Egypt's prime minister. The police headquarters in Gaza City was also hit, setting off a blaze that engulfed nearby houses and cars. |
| A three-storey house belonging to the Hamas official Abu Hassan Salah was destroyed early on Saturday, with at least 30 people rescued from the rubble, Reuters reported. | A three-storey house belonging to the Hamas official Abu Hassan Salah was destroyed early on Saturday, with at least 30 people rescued from the rubble, Reuters reported. |
| The US is scrambling to prevent a further escalation of what it described as a "very, very dangerous situation" in Gaza, and Britain has warned Israel it risks losing international support. | The US is scrambling to prevent a further escalation of what it described as a "very, very dangerous situation" in Gaza, and Britain has warned Israel it risks losing international support. |
| The size of the reservists callup is on a scale comparable to Israel's invasion of Lebanon six years ago, and several times larger than the number drafted during the last major incursion into Gaza, in 2008. Tanks have been seen gathering near the Gaza border, and roads in the area have been closed to Israeli civilians. | The size of the reservists callup is on a scale comparable to Israel's invasion of Lebanon six years ago, and several times larger than the number drafted during the last major incursion into Gaza, in 2008. Tanks have been seen gathering near the Gaza border, and roads in the area have been closed to Israeli civilians. |
| Israel's deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, told CNN that a ground invasion could come before the end of the weekend if the rocket attacks continued. "We don't want to get into Gaza if we don't have to. But if they keep firing at us … a ground operation is still on the cards," he said. "If we see in the next 24 to 36 hours more rockets launched at us, I think that would be the trigger." | Israel's deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, told CNN that a ground invasion could come before the end of the weekend if the rocket attacks continued. "We don't want to get into Gaza if we don't have to. But if they keep firing at us … a ground operation is still on the cards," he said. "If we see in the next 24 to 36 hours more rockets launched at us, I think that would be the trigger." |
| A rocket attack on Tel Aviv on Saturday, the third since hostilities began on Wednesday, was intercepted by Israeli missiles. Police said there were no casualties. | A rocket attack on Tel Aviv on Saturday, the third since hostilities began on Wednesday, was intercepted by Israeli missiles. Police said there were no casualties. |
| In southern Gaza, Israeli aircraft went after the hundreds of underground tunnels used to smuggle in weapons, fuel and food from Egypt, people in the area reported. Six people, including five militants, were killed and dozens wounded in the various attacks on Saturday, said Ashraf al-Kidra, a Gaza health official. | In southern Gaza, Israeli aircraft went after the hundreds of underground tunnels used to smuggle in weapons, fuel and food from Egypt, people in the area reported. Six people, including five militants, were killed and dozens wounded in the various attacks on Saturday, said Ashraf al-Kidra, a Gaza health official. |
| Up to 41 Palestinians including 13 civilians, and three Israeli civilians have been killed since the Israeli operation began, AP reported. Palestinians said their dead included at least eight children and a pregnant woman. | Up to 41 Palestinians including 13 civilians, and three Israeli civilians have been killed since the Israeli operation began, AP reported. Palestinians said their dead included at least eight children and a pregnant woman. |
| Tunisia's foreign minister, Rafik Abdesslem, arrived in Gaza on Saturday to show solidarity and denounce the Israeli attacks. "What Israel is doing is not legitimate and is not acceptable at all," he said. "It does not have total immunity and is not above international law." | Tunisia's foreign minister, Rafik Abdesslem, arrived in Gaza on Saturday to show solidarity and denounce the Israeli attacks. "What Israel is doing is not legitimate and is not acceptable at all," he said. "It does not have total immunity and is not above international law." |
| On Friday the White House said Barack Obama had spoken to the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, about de-escalating the violence while reiterating his support for Israel's right to defend itself. The US president also spoke to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister of Turkey, in the hope he could influence Hamas. | On Friday the White House said Barack Obama had spoken to the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, and the Egyptian president, Mohamed Morsi, about de-escalating the violence while reiterating his support for Israel's right to defend itself. The US president also spoke to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister of Turkey, in the hope he could influence Hamas. |
| Britain's foreign secretary, William Hague, told the BBC that a ground invasion could cost Israel international support. "Israel does have to bear in mind that it is when ground invasions have taken place in previous conflicts that they have lost international support and a great deal of sympathy around the world." | Britain's foreign secretary, William Hague, told the BBC that a ground invasion could cost Israel international support. "Israel does have to bear in mind that it is when ground invasions have taken place in previous conflicts that they have lost international support and a great deal of sympathy around the world." |
| Douglas Alexander, the shadow foreign secretary, called for a personal intervention by Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general. He said a "full-scale diplomatic initiative" by Ban over the next few days might be the only way to halt the violence. | Douglas Alexander, the shadow foreign secretary, called for a personal intervention by Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general. He said a "full-scale diplomatic initiative" by Ban over the next few days might be the only way to halt the violence. |
| "The only hope for peace and security for the citizens of the region will be through re-starting the stalled negotiations towards agreeing a two-state solution," he said. | "The only hope for peace and security for the citizens of the region will be through re-starting the stalled negotiations towards agreeing a two-state solution," he said. |
| But attitudes appeared to be hardening in Egypt, where Morsi denounced Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip as "a blatant aggression against humanity" and said Cairo "would not leave Gaza on its own". | But attitudes appeared to be hardening in Egypt, where Morsi denounced Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip as "a blatant aggression against humanity" and said Cairo "would not leave Gaza on its own". |
| In a statement that will increase western concern about strengthening anti-Israel sentiment in post-revolutionary Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East, Morsi added: "Egypt today is not the Egypt of yesterday, and Arabs today are not the Arabs of yesterday." | In a statement that will increase western concern about strengthening anti-Israel sentiment in post-revolutionary Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East, Morsi added: "Egypt today is not the Egypt of yesterday, and Arabs today are not the Arabs of yesterday." |
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