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Gaza conflict: Israel rejects truce 'as it stands' | Gaza conflict: Israel rejects truce 'as it stands' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Israel's security cabinet has rejected a Gaza ceasefire proposal put forward by US Secretary of State John Kerry "as it stands". | Israel's security cabinet has rejected a Gaza ceasefire proposal put forward by US Secretary of State John Kerry "as it stands". |
Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said ground operations in Gaza could soon be broadened "significantly". | Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said ground operations in Gaza could soon be broadened "significantly". |
Mr Kerry said he still hoped for an initial seven-day truce next week. | Mr Kerry said he still hoped for an initial seven-day truce next week. |
Hamas, the Islamist group which controls Gaza, said earlier it would not accept a deal without an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. | Hamas, the Islamist group which controls Gaza, said earlier it would not accept a deal without an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. |
More than 800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 36 Israelis have died since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas which entered its 18th day on Friday. | More than 800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 36 Israelis have died since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas which entered its 18th day on Friday. |
A senior Israeli official told the BBC that Mr Yaalon and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were "considering a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza. | A senior Israeli official told the BBC that Mr Yaalon and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were "considering a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza. |
An unnamed US official, quoted by reporters in Cairo, said Mr Netanyahu had told Mr Kerry that Israel would begin the 12-hour pause on Saturday. | |
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued on Friday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had killed a senior member of the militant group Islamic Jihad. | Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued on Friday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had killed a senior member of the militant group Islamic Jihad. |
The IDF also said its Iron Dome defence system had intercepted several rockets fired across the border by Hamas. | The IDF also said its Iron Dome defence system had intercepted several rockets fired across the border by Hamas. |
Israel launched its military offensive on 8 July with the declared objective of stopping Hamas firing rockets into Israel. | Israel launched its military offensive on 8 July with the declared objective of stopping Hamas firing rockets into Israel. |
It has since extended its operation to destroy tunnels dug by militants to infiltrate Israel. | It has since extended its operation to destroy tunnels dug by militants to infiltrate Israel. |
Rioting has erupted for the second night running at the Qalandia checkpoint in the West Bank, where 10,000 protesters massed on Thursday, clashing with Israeli border police. | Rioting has erupted for the second night running at the Qalandia checkpoint in the West Bank, where 10,000 protesters massed on Thursday, clashing with Israeli border police. |
Stones have been thrown and there has been some fire from the Israeli side, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports. | Stones have been thrown and there has been some fire from the Israeli side, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports. |
In other developments | In other developments |
'Agony' | 'Agony' |
Israel's Channel 1 TV reported that the cabinet had unanimously rejected the truce proposal "as it stands". | Israel's Channel 1 TV reported that the cabinet had unanimously rejected the truce proposal "as it stands". |
Just after Mr Kerry spoke to reporters, the Israeli defence minister's office issued a statement in which he was quoted as telling soldiers in the field: "You need to be ready for the possibility that very soon we will instruct the military to significantly broaden the ground operation in Gaza." | Just after Mr Kerry spoke to reporters, the Israeli defence minister's office issued a statement in which he was quoted as telling soldiers in the field: "You need to be ready for the possibility that very soon we will instruct the military to significantly broaden the ground operation in Gaza." |
Mr Kerry said he was confident Mr Netanyahu was committed to finding a solution and that the "agony" of the situation for both Gaza and Israel could not be overstated. | Mr Kerry said he was confident Mr Netanyahu was committed to finding a solution and that the "agony" of the situation for both Gaza and Israel could not be overstated. |
There was, he said, "still some terminology... to work through" but he was confident there was a "fundamental framework that can and will ultimately work". | There was, he said, "still some terminology... to work through" but he was confident there was a "fundamental framework that can and will ultimately work". |
"We believe that seven days will give all the parties the opportunity to step back from the violence and focus on the underlying causes," he said. | "We believe that seven days will give all the parties the opportunity to step back from the violence and focus on the underlying causes," he said. |
He was speaking after talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, with Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who likewise called for the seven-day "humanitarian" truce to coincide with the Muslim Eid holiday. | He was speaking after talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, with Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and UN chief Ban Ki-moon, who likewise called for the seven-day "humanitarian" truce to coincide with the Muslim Eid holiday. |
For the UN, Mr Ban said progress was being made but much more work remained. | For the UN, Mr Ban said progress was being made but much more work remained. |
Mr Kerry said he would be in Paris on Saturday to continue talks with other players on achieving a ceasefire. | Mr Kerry said he would be in Paris on Saturday to continue talks with other players on achieving a ceasefire. |
Are you in the West Bank, Gaza or Israel? Are you affected by the violence? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Israel Gaza'. | Are you in the West Bank, Gaza or Israel? Are you affected by the violence? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Israel Gaza'. |