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| Gaza conflict: Israel expands ground offensive | Gaza conflict: Israel expands ground offensive |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israel says it has expanded its ground operation against Hamas, with residents in Gaza reporting the heaviest shelling since the conflict began 13 days ago. | Israel says it has expanded its ground operation against Hamas, with residents in Gaza reporting the heaviest shelling since the conflict began 13 days ago. |
| In a statement, Israel's military said "additional forces" had joined "the effort to combat terror" in Gaza. | In a statement, Israel's military said "additional forces" had joined "the effort to combat terror" in Gaza. |
| Four Palestinians died, including two children and the son of a senior Hamas official, in new airstrikes on Sunday. | Four Palestinians died, including two children and the son of a senior Hamas official, in new airstrikes on Sunday. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is due to arrive in Qatar later to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is due to arrive in Qatar later to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| His visit is part of a regional tour aimed at helping Israelis and Palestinians "end the violence and find a way forward", the UN said. | His visit is part of a regional tour aimed at helping Israelis and Palestinians "end the violence and find a way forward", the UN said. |
| But the death toll continued to rise at the weekend, with the number of Palestinians killed now at more than 350 - the vast majority of them civilians. | But the death toll continued to rise at the weekend, with the number of Palestinians killed now at more than 350 - the vast majority of them civilians. |
| Five Israeli soldiers and two Israeli civilians have died since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched the military offensive on 8 July. | |
| The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sent ground troops into Gaza on Thursday after 10 days of heavy air and naval barrages failed to stop rocket fire from Gaza. | The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sent ground troops into Gaza on Thursday after 10 days of heavy air and naval barrages failed to stop rocket fire from Gaza. |
| 'Restoring security' | 'Restoring security' |
| Israel says the ground operation is necessary to target a Hamas tunnel network, which it says it could not do only from the air. | Israel says the ground operation is necessary to target a Hamas tunnel network, which it says it could not do only from the air. |
| Two Israeli soldiers were killed on Saturday during a gunfight with Palestinian militants who had used tunnels to cross into Israel to launch an attack, the IDF said. | Two Israeli soldiers were killed on Saturday during a gunfight with Palestinian militants who had used tunnels to cross into Israel to launch an attack, the IDF said. |
| Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, an IDF spokesman, said the ground offensive was being expanded "to restore security and stability to Israel's residents and citizens". | Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, an IDF spokesman, said the ground offensive was being expanded "to restore security and stability to Israel's residents and citizens". |
| Residents in Gaza reported hearing explosions throughout the night on Saturday. | Residents in Gaza reported hearing explosions throughout the night on Saturday. |
| An airstrike in the suburb of Shejaiya targeted the house of Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, killing four people including his son and daughter-in-law, Palestinian doctors said. | An airstrike in the suburb of Shejaiya targeted the house of Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, killing four people including his son and daughter-in-law, Palestinian doctors said. |
| Meanwhile, the United Nations warned that it was running out of supplies to help more than 50,000 Palestinians who have sought shelter at its schools in Gaza. | Meanwhile, the United Nations warned that it was running out of supplies to help more than 50,000 Palestinians who have sought shelter at its schools in Gaza. |
| A UN official said the number of people fleeing was much higher than expected, with both the Israeli and Egyptian borders closed to Gazans. | A UN official said the number of people fleeing was much higher than expected, with both the Israeli and Egyptian borders closed to Gazans. |
| Fears over civilian deaths | Fears over civilian deaths |
| Diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire involving, among others, Egypt, Qatar, France and the UN, have failed to make any progress. | Diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire involving, among others, Egypt, Qatar, France and the UN, have failed to make any progress. |
| French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius met Mr Netanyahu on Saturday, but said that attempts to agree a ceasefire had failed. | French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius met Mr Netanyahu on Saturday, but said that attempts to agree a ceasefire had failed. |
| "Sadly I can say that the call for a ceasefire has not been heard, and on the contrary, there's a risk of more civilian casualties that worries us," he told press. | "Sadly I can say that the call for a ceasefire has not been heard, and on the contrary, there's a risk of more civilian casualties that worries us," he told press. |
| Qatar is expected to host a meeting between President Abbas and Ban Ki-moon on Sunday before the UN chief continues on to Kuwait, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan. | Qatar is expected to host a meeting between President Abbas and Ban Ki-moon on Sunday before the UN chief continues on to Kuwait, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan. |
| Mr Abbas is also due to meet Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in a bid to convince the Islamist group to agree to Egyptian efforts to end the fighting. | Mr Abbas is also due to meet Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in a bid to convince the Islamist group to agree to Egyptian efforts to end the fighting. |
| Hamas rejected an Egypt-brokered ceasefire last week, saying any deal with Israel must include an end to a blockade of Gaza. | Hamas rejected an Egypt-brokered ceasefire last week, saying any deal with Israel must include an end to a blockade of Gaza. |
| Are you in the area affected? Are you or is someone you know affected by the situation? Email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject 'Gaza'. | Are you in the area affected? Are you or is someone you know affected by the situation? Email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject 'Gaza'. |