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| Israel ready to widen Gaza ground offensive - PM | Israel ready to widen Gaza ground offensive - PM |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Israel is prepared to "significantly widen" its ground offensive against militants in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said. | Israel is prepared to "significantly widen" its ground offensive against militants in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said. |
| He said the military was targeting the Hamas tunnel network, which it could not do "only from the air". | He said the military was targeting the Hamas tunnel network, which it could not do "only from the air". |
| Thousands of troops moved into parts of Gaza on Thursday night, backed by tanks and artillery fire. | Thousands of troops moved into parts of Gaza on Thursday night, backed by tanks and artillery fire. |
| Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls Gaza, has said Israel will "pay a high price" for the invasion. | Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls Gaza, has said Israel will "pay a high price" for the invasion. |
| The BBC's Yolande Knell in Gaza City says Israeli aircraft and artillery have intensified strikes in the north, east and south of Gaza. | The BBC's Yolande Knell in Gaza City says Israeli aircraft and artillery have intensified strikes in the north, east and south of Gaza. |
| Meanwhile, air raid sirens sounded in towns across southern Israel as rocket attacks from Gaza continued. | |
| At least 24 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have been killed since the ground offensive began on Thursday, Gaza's health ministry said. | At least 24 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have been killed since the ground offensive began on Thursday, Gaza's health ministry said. |
| The dead included three Palestinian children killed by Israeli tank fire in the north of Gaza, medics added. | The dead included three Palestinian children killed by Israeli tank fire in the north of Gaza, medics added. |
| The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say they struck more than 100 targets in Gaza overnight that included 20 missile launchers and nine tunnels. | The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say they struck more than 100 targets in Gaza overnight that included 20 missile launchers and nine tunnels. |
| The decision to send in troops came after 10 days of intensive rocket fire from militants in Gaza and air strikes by Israel. | The decision to send in troops came after 10 days of intensive rocket fire from militants in Gaza and air strikes by Israel. |
| "Last night our forces began a ground operation to hit the terror tunnels crossing from Gaza into Israel's territory," Mr Netanyahu told a special cabinet session broadcast live on television on Friday. | "Last night our forces began a ground operation to hit the terror tunnels crossing from Gaza into Israel's territory," Mr Netanyahu told a special cabinet session broadcast live on television on Friday. |
| "It is not possible to deal with the tunnels only from the air." | "It is not possible to deal with the tunnels only from the air." |
| He added: "My instructions... are to prepare for the possibility of significantly widening the ground operation, and the military is preparing accordingly." | He added: "My instructions... are to prepare for the possibility of significantly widening the ground operation, and the military is preparing accordingly." |
| Mr Netanyahu said the operation came after Israel had agreed to an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire and to Thursday's five-hour UN humanitarian ceasefire. | Mr Netanyahu said the operation came after Israel had agreed to an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire and to Thursday's five-hour UN humanitarian ceasefire. |
| "In both of these opportunities Hamas continued to fire," he said. | "In both of these opportunities Hamas continued to fire," he said. |
| Palestinian militants have used tunnels to carry out attacks, some of which have been thwarted by the Israeli military. | Palestinian militants have used tunnels to carry out attacks, some of which have been thwarted by the Israeli military. |
| On the morning of the ground offensive, the Israeli military intercepted 13 militants who had infiltrated Israel through a tunnel, and were believed to be planning to attack a nearby kibbutz. | On the morning of the ground offensive, the Israeli military intercepted 13 militants who had infiltrated Israel through a tunnel, and were believed to be planning to attack a nearby kibbutz. |
| Some 267 Palestinians - three-quarters of them civilians - have died since the start of the wider Israeli operation on 8 July, officials in Gaza say. | |
| One Israeli civilian has been killed by mortar fire and several Israelis have been seriously injured, Israeli medics say. | One Israeli civilian has been killed by mortar fire and several Israelis have been seriously injured, Israeli medics say. |
| Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah party recently agreed to a unity government with Hamas, has been holding talks in Cairo amid efforts to negotiate a truce. | Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah party recently agreed to a unity government with Hamas, has been holding talks in Cairo amid efforts to negotiate a truce. |
| On Friday he met leaders of Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant faction in Gaza, and said he found "a kind of acceptance" of the peace initiative. | On Friday he met leaders of Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant faction in Gaza, and said he found "a kind of acceptance" of the peace initiative. |
| Call for restraint | Call for restraint |
| French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is travelling to Egypt, Jordan and Israel as part of a diplomatic push to stop the fighting. | French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is travelling to Egypt, Jordan and Israel as part of a diplomatic push to stop the fighting. |
| In a statement he said he wanted a lasting truce "that responds to Israel's security needs and Palestinian economic needs". | In a statement he said he wanted a lasting truce "that responds to Israel's security needs and Palestinian economic needs". |
| He also urged Israel to show restraint. | He also urged Israel to show restraint. |
| On Thursday, Israel approved the drafting of 18,000 more reservists, bringing the number of extra troops called up since 8 July to 65,000. | On Thursday, Israel approved the drafting of 18,000 more reservists, bringing the number of extra troops called up since 8 July to 65,000. |
| Israel says it has carried out more than 1,960 attacks on Gaza since 8 July, while militants have fired some 1,380 rockets at Israel. It says more than 50 rockets have been fired at Israel since the ground operation began. | Israel says it has carried out more than 1,960 attacks on Gaza since 8 July, while militants have fired some 1,380 rockets at Israel. It says more than 50 rockets have been fired at Israel since the ground operation began. |
| The UN says at least 1,370 homes have been destroyed in Gaza and more than 18,000 people displaced in recent hostilities. | The UN says at least 1,370 homes have been destroyed in Gaza and more than 18,000 people displaced in recent hostilities. |
| Are you in Gaza? Are you or is someone you know affected by the situation? Email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject 'Gaza'. | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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