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| Hamas leader ties truce to end of Gaza blockade | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The leader of Islamic militant group Hamas has said there can be no truce to ease the conflict in Gaza without an end to the Israeli blockade. | |
| "Everyone wanted us to accept a ceasefire and then negotiate for our rights," Khaled Meshaal said. | |
| "We reject this and we reject it again today," he told reporters in Qatar. | |
| His announcement comes as fierce fighting continues in the Gaza Strip, with Israeli forces conducting more air strikes and ground operations. | |
| Israel launched its offensive on 8 July with the declared objective of stopping rocket fire from Gaza. | |
| At least 649 Palestinians and 31 Israelis have been killed in the past 15 days of fighting, officials say | |
| Earlier, the UN's top human rights official, Navi Pillay, condemned Israel's military actions in Gaza. | |
| She also condemned Hamas for "indiscriminate attacks" on Israel. |