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| Thousands flee northern Gaza after Israeli warnings | Thousands flee northern Gaza after Israeli warnings |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of Palestinians are fleeing northern parts of Gaza after Israel warned it was targeting the area in its campaign to stop rocket attacks. | Thousands of Palestinians are fleeing northern parts of Gaza after Israel warned it was targeting the area in its campaign to stop rocket attacks. |
| The UN says 4,000 people have already sought refuge in shelters as Israeli air strikes continue for a sixth day. | The UN says 4,000 people have already sought refuge in shelters as Israeli air strikes continue for a sixth day. |
| Israeli forces have raided a suspected rocket-launching site in Gaza in their first reported ground incursion. | Israeli forces have raided a suspected rocket-launching site in Gaza in their first reported ground incursion. |
| At least 159 Palestinians have been killed since Israel's offensive began, according to health officials in Gaza. | At least 159 Palestinians have been killed since Israel's offensive began, according to health officials in Gaza. |
| The dead are said to include 17 members of one family who died in an Israeli missile strike on Saturday evening. | The dead are said to include 17 members of one family who died in an Israeli missile strike on Saturday evening. |
| Israel says it is targeting Hamas militants and "terror sites", including the homes of senior operatives. However, the United Nations has estimated that 77% of the people killed in Gaza have been civilians. | Israel says it is targeting Hamas militants and "terror sites", including the homes of senior operatives. However, the United Nations has estimated that 77% of the people killed in Gaza have been civilians. |
| The UN Security Council called for a ceasefire and peace talks on Saturday. | The UN Security Council called for a ceasefire and peace talks on Saturday. |
| In the latest developments | |
| At the scene: Quentin Somerville, BBC News, Ashdod, Israel | |
| Sirens sounded across the country today from first light, as rockets from Gaza continued to hit Israel, but the country's sophisticated Iron Dome missile defence system intercepted the most dangerous. | |
| Six days into this conflict there has not been a single Israeli death from a Hamas rocket. | |
| Despite the growing number of civilian casualties in Gaza, in Israel more than 90% of Israelis support the air campaign. Israel's tanks stand ready to invade Gaza but there is no widespread support for a ground offensive. That, for now, may be all that is stopping this conflict from escalating. | |
| At the scene: Jeremy Bowen, BBC News, Gaza City | |
| For much of the night, the wounded and the dead were brought into Shifa, Gaza's main hospital. It was the most sustained bombing so far. For Israel, with US support, it is self-defence but as more Palestinian civilians die, the pressure for a ceasefire is growing. | |
| Israel is not trying to win friends in the Gaza Strip: it does want to weaken Hamas as an organisation. But every time Palestinian civilians die, Hamas gets a popularity boost. Israel says Hamas attacks their people and is therefore responsible for Palestinian civilian deaths when Israel retaliates, but no Palestinian will listen to that. | |
| At times like this in Gaza, life and death are overshadowed by one reality: almost 70 years of conflict with Israel and no prospect of an end. | |
| 'Nowhere to go' | 'Nowhere to go' |
| The military confirmed it had dropped leaflets over the city of Beit Lahiya on Sunday morning telling civilians to seek shelter. | The military confirmed it had dropped leaflets over the city of Beit Lahiya on Sunday morning telling civilians to seek shelter. |
| "We do not wish to harm civilians in Gaza, but these civilians must know that remaining in close proximity to Hamas terrorists and infrastructures is extremely unsafe," the IDF said. | "We do not wish to harm civilians in Gaza, but these civilians must know that remaining in close proximity to Hamas terrorists and infrastructures is extremely unsafe," the IDF said. |
| By 10:30 (07:30 GMT), more than 4,000 Gaza residents had taken refuge at eight bases of the UN Relief and Works Agency, spokesman Chris Gunness said. | By 10:30 (07:30 GMT), more than 4,000 Gaza residents had taken refuge at eight bases of the UN Relief and Works Agency, spokesman Chris Gunness said. |
| Meanwhile, around 800 Palestinians holding dual citizenship began leaving Gaza via Israel's Erez Crossing. | Meanwhile, around 800 Palestinians holding dual citizenship began leaving Gaza via Israel's Erez Crossing. |
| The Palestinian Authority's envoy in the UK, Manuel Hassassian, told BBC News there was nowhere for Gaza residents to hide. | The Palestinian Authority's envoy in the UK, Manuel Hassassian, told BBC News there was nowhere for Gaza residents to hide. |
| "Hamas is an integral part of the population, and they are resisting from everywhere," he said. | "Hamas is an integral part of the population, and they are resisting from everywhere," he said. |
| "When Israel says, 'We dropped leaflets to evacuate the northern part of Gaza... we don't need collateral damage' - well, they have been bombarding all of Gaza. And where do these people have to go? There are no shelters, no bunkers, no place to go, except their homes. If they leave their homes, they will be hit on the street." | "When Israel says, 'We dropped leaflets to evacuate the northern part of Gaza... we don't need collateral damage' - well, they have been bombarding all of Gaza. And where do these people have to go? There are no shelters, no bunkers, no place to go, except their homes. If they leave their homes, they will be hit on the street." |
| Early on Sunday, Israeli air strikes destroyed most of the security headquarters and police stations run by Hamas Islamist militants. | Early on Sunday, Israeli air strikes destroyed most of the security headquarters and police stations run by Hamas Islamist militants. |
| The homes next to the compound suffered extensive damage, as they are located in the densely populated neighbourhood of Tel al-Hawa in south Gaza, correspondents say. | The homes next to the compound suffered extensive damage, as they are located in the densely populated neighbourhood of Tel al-Hawa in south Gaza, correspondents say. |
| The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops had also raided a site used to fire long-range rockets at Israel. Four soldiers were lightly injured, it said. | |
| It is believed to be the first time Israeli troops - thought to be naval commandos on this occasion - have entered Gaza since Israel launched Operation Protective Edge. | It is believed to be the first time Israeli troops - thought to be naval commandos on this occasion - have entered Gaza since Israel launched Operation Protective Edge. |
| Israel has been building up its troops along the border with northern Gaza, fuelling speculation of a possible ground invasion. | Israel has been building up its troops along the border with northern Gaza, fuelling speculation of a possible ground invasion. |
| Defending Israel's actions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US broadcaster CBS: "We're sorry for any accidental civilian deaths but it's the Hamas that bears complete responsibility for such civilian casualties." | Defending Israel's actions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US broadcaster CBS: "We're sorry for any accidental civilian deaths but it's the Hamas that bears complete responsibility for such civilian casualties." |
| Call for restraint | Call for restraint |
| The IDF says it has so far struck some 1,320 "terror" sites across Gaza, while Hamas has launched more than 800 rockets at Israel. | The IDF says it has so far struck some 1,320 "terror" sites across Gaza, while Hamas has launched more than 800 rockets at Israel. |
| Israel's Iron Dome missile shield intercepted several rockets on Sunday above central and southern Israel, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports. | Israel's Iron Dome missile shield intercepted several rockets on Sunday above central and southern Israel, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports. |
| At least three Israelis have been seriously injured since the violence erupted, but no Israelis have been killed by the attacks. | At least three Israelis have been seriously injured since the violence erupted, but no Israelis have been killed by the attacks. |
| Palestinian sources say more than 1,000 people have been injured. | Palestinian sources say more than 1,000 people have been injured. |
| France on Sunday again condemned the Hamas rocket attacks, but also called on Israel to "show restraint" in its Gaza campaign and avoid civilian casualties. | France on Sunday again condemned the Hamas rocket attacks, but also called on Israel to "show restraint" in its Gaza campaign and avoid civilian casualties. |
| Germany is sending Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Israel on Monday for talks with Israelis and Palestinians to help negotiate an end to the violence. | Germany is sending Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Israel on Monday for talks with Israelis and Palestinians to help negotiate an end to the violence. |
| Rocket fire and air strikes increased after the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in June, which Israel blamed on Hamas and which led to a crackdown on the group in the West Bank. Hamas denied being behind the killings. | Rocket fire and air strikes increased after the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in June, which Israel blamed on Hamas and which led to a crackdown on the group in the West Bank. Hamas denied being behind the killings. |
| Tensions rose further after the suspected revenge killing of a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem on 2 July. Six Jewish suspects were arrested over the youth's abduction and murder. | Tensions rose further after the suspected revenge killing of a Palestinian teenager in Jerusalem on 2 July. Six Jewish suspects were arrested over the youth's abduction and murder. |
| Israel and militants in Gaza fought an eight-day war in November 2012, which ended with a truce. | Israel and militants in Gaza fought an eight-day war in November 2012, which ended with a truce. |
| Israel's Iron Dome missile shield | Israel's Iron Dome missile shield |