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Pressure builds on Israel to end military offensive as Gaza death toll rises '100 killed' in Gaza as pressure builds on Israel to end military offensive
(about 1 hour later)
The death toll in Gaza has risen as international pressure builds on Israel to end its four-day conflict with Hamas and Palestinian militant groups in the enclave.The death toll in Gaza has risen as international pressure builds on Israel to end its four-day conflict with Hamas and Palestinian militant groups in the enclave.
The White House said Barack Obama had phoned the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, to offer to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Palestinian sources put the number of dead from the Israeli military assault in Gaza at 98, dozens of them women and children. A Gaza health ministry spokesman said two Palestinians were killed and three injured in an Israeli air strike on Friday that brought the death toll to 100.
Rocket fire continued at Israeli cities, which have so far avoided fatalities, and Hamas's armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said on Friday it intended to hit Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion international airport, warning airlines not to fly to it.
The White House said late on Thursday that Barack Obama had phoned the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, to offer to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement," the White House said."The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, including a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement," the White House said.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said that ceasefire was "more urgent than ever" after an emergency security council meeting on Thursday. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has also urged Netanyahu to consider a ceasefire.The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said that ceasefire was "more urgent than ever" after an emergency security council meeting on Thursday. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has also urged Netanyahu to consider a ceasefire.
Riyad Mansour, Palestine's ambassador to the UN, said: "We call on the security council to act immediately to protect civilian lives, which are being lost a destroyed with each passing minute."Riyad Mansour, Palestine's ambassador to the UN, said: "We call on the security council to act immediately to protect civilian lives, which are being lost a destroyed with each passing minute."
But in a televised statement on Thursday, Netanyahu seemed to indicate that Israeli's military action in Gaza – named Operation Protective Shield – was far from over. But in a televised statement on Thursday, Netanyahu seemed to indicate that Israeli's military action in Gaza – named Operation Protective Edge – was far from over.
"So far the battle is progressing as planned, but we can expect further stages in future. Up to now, we have hit Hamas and the terror organisations hard and as the battle continues we will increase strikes at them," he said."So far the battle is progressing as planned, but we can expect further stages in future. Up to now, we have hit Hamas and the terror organisations hard and as the battle continues we will increase strikes at them," he said.
Israel has called up about 20,000 reserve troops, and while there is still no indication of whether it will launch a ground offensive, shelling and air strikes continued on Friday.Israel has called up about 20,000 reserve troops, and while there is still no indication of whether it will launch a ground offensive, shelling and air strikes continued on Friday.
An air strike on a house in Gaza City early on Friday killed a man described by officials as a doctor and pharmacist. Medics and residents said an Israeli aircraft bombed a three-storey house in Rafah, killing three people. Overnight six Palestinians were killed in two strikes, including one on the home of an Islamic Jihad militant in Rafah, medical sources said.
Palestinians said Israeli tanks fired shells east of Rafah, while naval forces shelled a security compound in Gaza City and aircraft bombed positions near the borders with Egypt and Israel. Witnesses told AFP the militant, Abdel Razzaq al-Ghannam, was not home when the attack took place, but five people, including a woman and a seven-year-old child, were killed. It followed an air strike on a house in Gaza City that killed 33-year-old Anas Abu al-Kass.
The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that 548 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge, including one from Lebanon on Friday morning that landed near Gallilee.The Israeli military confirmed on Friday that 548 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel since the beginning of Operation Protective Edge, including one from Lebanon on Friday morning that landed near Gallilee.
Also on Friday, one rocket hit a petrol station in the Israeli port city of Ashdod, causing a huge blaze and seriously injuring at least three people, an ambulance spokesman said.Also on Friday, one rocket hit a petrol station in the Israeli port city of Ashdod, causing a huge blaze and seriously injuring at least three people, an ambulance spokesman said.
But despite a barrage of rockets targeting Israeli cities including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv – causing thousands to rush to bomb shelters for the first time in years – there have still been no Israeli deaths since the beginning of this latest conflict.But despite a barrage of rockets targeting Israeli cities including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv – causing thousands to rush to bomb shelters for the first time in years – there have still been no Israeli deaths since the beginning of this latest conflict.
On Friday morning, air raid sirens rang out again in Tel Aviv, Israel's commercial capital, and three loud explosions were heard as Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system shot down rockets over the city for a third day running.On Friday morning, air raid sirens rang out again in Tel Aviv, Israel's commercial capital, and three loud explosions were heard as Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system shot down rockets over the city for a third day running.
"Three rockets were launched at central Tel Aviv. All three were intercepted over the Tel Aviv metropolitan area," an Israeli army statement said.
In Jerusalem, Israeli police deployed extra units in the Old City to deal with potential unrest after Friday prayers, according to a police spokesman. Access to al-Aqsa mosque will again be restricted to women and men over 50.In Jerusalem, Israeli police deployed extra units in the Old City to deal with potential unrest after Friday prayers, according to a police spokesman. Access to al-Aqsa mosque will again be restricted to women and men over 50.
Last week, there were riots in Shuafat, East Jerusalem, following the murder of 17-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who was abducted from outside his home and then killed. A Shuafat resident told the Guardian on Thursday that as many as 60 members of Israel Defence Forces had been stationed in the neighbourhood for more than a week.Last week, there were riots in Shuafat, East Jerusalem, following the murder of 17-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir, who was abducted from outside his home and then killed. A Shuafat resident told the Guardian on Thursday that as many as 60 members of Israel Defence Forces had been stationed in the neighbourhood for more than a week.