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Israeli cabinet rejects US proposal for 'humanitarian pause' in Gaza fighting John Kerry fails to secure Gaza ceasefire as efforts for truce continue
(about 4 hours later)
Israel's cabinet has unanimously rejected a US-backed proposal for a week-long "humanitarian pause" in the offensive on Gaza after 18 days of fighting that has claimed more than 800 Palestinian lives. The US failed to secure agreement on a ceasefire to end 18 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on Friday night but insisted that efforts were continuing to arrange a humanitarian truce in time for a Muslim holiday early next week.
Binyamin Netanyhau and his ministers reached their decision on a day when Gaza's death toll reached 822 and five more Palestinians were killed in protests that spread to the West Bank. Hamas had already signalled its opposition to the terms of the US plan, which it deemed too favourable to Israel. John Kerry, the US secretary of state, said he was confident of a breakthrough despite a reported decision by Israel's cabinet to reject the proposed terms. Israeli officials later announced a 12-hour "pause" from 8am on Saturday, Haaretz newspaper reported. Hamas was said to have agreed, according to al-Quds TV.
The Israeli decision, reported by Israel's Channel 2 TV, left the US secretary of state, John Kerry, struggling to find a way to continue his efforts to halt the bloodshed. But in one of a flurry of contradictory moves, Israel's defence minister also warned that the army was preparing to expand ground operations in the coastal enclave, where the offensive has already claimed 850 Palestinian lives, three-quarters of them civilians.
Unrwa, the UN refugee agency, said 150,000 people were now seeking shelter. Hamas has also signalled its opposition to the terms of the US ceasefire plan, which it deemed too favourable to Israel.
Militants again fired rockets out of Gaza, triggering sirens across southern and central Israel, including at the country's main airport. No injuries were reported, with the Iron Dome interceptor system knocking out many of the missiles. Its leader, Khaled Mishaal, has insisted on an end to the siege of Gaza; Israel on an end to cross-border attacks. The gap between the two sides remains wide.
Kerry spent the day holding talks and working the phones in Cairo in an atmosphere of what officials described as "cautious optimism" about the outcome of efforts to secure a truce. "We are working toward a brief seven days of peace," Kerry said in Cairo. "Seven days of a humanitarian ceasefire in honour of Eid in order to be able to bring people together to try to work to create a more durable, sustainable ceasefire for the long run.
Parallel contacts, between Turkey and the Hamas leader, Khaled Mishal, were also taking place in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Mishal has insisted on an end to the siege of Gaza; Israel on an end to cross-border attacks. The gap between the two sides is wide. "The basic outline is approved by everyone. People believe that if the structures are right, a ceasefire is right. But it obviously has to be in ways that either side feels prejudiced." Israel, he said, "had some opposition to some concepts."
Israel army radio reported that Netanyahu's ministers had been divided over the wisdom of accepting Kerry's proposal, which was being supported by the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon. Hawkish ministers were said to favour widening the ground operation in Gaza and warning against any gain for Hamas. Under the US plan, Israeli troops could stay behind after a ceasefire to continue destroying cross-border tunnels. The week-long truce would be followed by talks on more permanent arrangements, under Egyptian supervision. From Cairo, Kerry will fly to Paris, where he will meet officials from France, the UK and EU as well as Turkey and Qatar – two countries with influence over Hamas. "The whole world is watching tragic moment after tragic moment unfold and wondering when everyone is going to come to the their senses," he said.
General Sami Turgeman, head of Israel's southern command, said his forces needed more time to destroy the tunnels in Gaza. Hinting at the growing pressure for a ceasefire, he told reporters: "We know that there are other timetables that can affect us, and we will use all the time that we have at our disposal." Underlining the scale of the crisis, Unrwa, the UN refugee agency, said 160,000 people were now seeking shelter at its facilities. Palestinian militants again fired rockets from Gaza, triggering sirens across southern and central Israel, including at the main airport. No injuries were reported, with the Iron Dome interceptor system knocking out many of the missiles.
Turgeman said Hamas fighters were in poor shape and were finding it harder to launch rockets into Israel. Israel army radio reported that Binyamin Netanyahu and his cabinet had been divided over the wisdom of accepting Kerry's proposal, which was supported by the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon. Hawkish ministers were said to favour widening the ground operation in Gaza and warning against any gain for Hamas.
The West Bank fatalities on Friday followed a big demonstration on Thursday night at the Qalandiya checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah, in which 10,000 demonstrators marched in solidarity with Gaza. Under the US plan, Israeli troops could stay behind after a ceasefire to continue destroying cross-border tunnels. A week-long truce would be followed by talks on more permanent arrangements, under Egyptian supervision.
General Sami Turgeman, head of Israel's southern command, said his forces needed more time to destroy the tunnels. Hinting at the growing pressure for a ceasefire, he said: "We know that there are other timetables that can affect us, and we will use all the time that we have at our disposal." Turgeman said Hamas fighters were in poor shape and were finding it harder to launch rockets into Israel.
At least five West Bank deaths on Friday followed a big demonstration on Thursday night at the Qalandiya checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah, in which 10,000 demonstrators marched in solidarity with Gaza.
Two men were shot dead by Israeli troops and about 250 people injured, mostly from gunshots.Two men were shot dead by Israeli troops and about 250 people injured, mostly from gunshots.
"Ambulances were coming every minute," said a doctor in the hospital's emergency department. "We have seen this before but not since the intifada," he said, referring to the last Palestinian uprising."Ambulances were coming every minute," said a doctor in the hospital's emergency department. "We have seen this before but not since the intifada," he said, referring to the last Palestinian uprising.
Israel announced that an army reservist had been killed in Gaza, bringing to 34 the number of soldiers lost since its ground offensive began.Israel announced that an army reservist had been killed in Gaza, bringing to 34 the number of soldiers lost since its ground offensive began.
Gaza officials said Israeli strikes killed 33 Palestinians on Friday, including the head of media operations for Hamas and his son. Gaza officials said Israeli strikes killed 55 Palestinians on Friday, including the head of media operations for Hamas and his son.
The Israeli military said that one of its soldiers who had been missing since a battle in Shujai'iya on Sunday was dead.The Israeli military said that one of its soldiers who had been missing since a battle in Shujai'iya on Sunday was dead.
"Oron Shaul is defined as 'a soldier killed in action whose burial site is unknown'," said an Israel Defence Forces statement. The soldier was in an armoured vehicle ambushed by Palestinians."Oron Shaul is defined as 'a soldier killed in action whose burial site is unknown'," said an Israel Defence Forces statement. The soldier was in an armoured vehicle ambushed by Palestinians.
The bodies of six other infantrymen were recovered but Shaul's fate had been unclear. If Hamas is holding Shaul's body, it may give it leverage in bargaining for the release of prisoners which it is demanding as part of a ceasefire deal. The bodies of six other infantrymen were recovered but Shaul's fate had been unclear. If Hamas is holding Shaul's body, that may give the group leverage in bargaining for the release of prisoners which it is demanding as part of a ceasefire deal.
Unwra issued a strongly-worded statement about the Israeli military when a team including an international weapons expert visited the school at Beit Hanoun which came under attack on Thursday, causing at least 15 deaths and 200 injuries. Unrwa issued a strongly worded statement about the Israeli military when a team including an international weapons expert visited the school at Beit Hanoun which came under attack on Thursday, causing at least 15 deaths and 200 injuries.
"The aim of the visit to the site was to survey the scene in the aftermath of the incident," Unwra said. "The aim of the visit to the site was to survey the scene in the aftermath of the incident," Unrwa said.
"The Israeli army had been notified in advance about the composition of the team, the time and purpose of the visit. The mission had to be cut short and the team was forced to leave the area after gunfire around the school. We again underline our call for an immediate and comprehensive investigation.""The Israeli army had been notified in advance about the composition of the team, the time and purpose of the visit. The mission had to be cut short and the team was forced to leave the area after gunfire around the school. We again underline our call for an immediate and comprehensive investigation."
Violence in the Palestinian territories was echoed in neighbouring Jordan, where around 2,000 people demonstrated in Amman, after Friday prayers, chanting: "We sacrifice our blood and souls for you, Gaza" and "Bomb and destroy Tel Aviv". Protests were held in the northern cities of Zarqa and Irbid as well as in the south, in Karak. Violence in the Palestinian territories was echoed in neighbouring Jordan, where about 2,000 people demonstrated in Amman after Friday prayers, chanting: "We sacrifice our blood and souls for you, Gaza" and "Bomb and destroy Tel Aviv." Protests were held in the northern cities of Zarqa and Irbid as well as in the south, in Karak.
In Iran hundreds of thousands of people took part in nationwide rallies in solidarity with Palestinians. Images showed demonstrators holding banners, such as one reading "Stop killing babies in Gaza". A group of demonstrators set fire to Israeli flags and carried puppets of Israeli and American officials.In Iran hundreds of thousands of people took part in nationwide rallies in solidarity with Palestinians. Images showed demonstrators holding banners, such as one reading "Stop killing babies in Gaza". A group of demonstrators set fire to Israeli flags and carried puppets of Israeli and American officials.
In Lebanon, Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of Hezbollah, said: "This is the most critical period in the region's history since the rape of Palestine."In Lebanon, Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary general of Hezbollah, said: "This is the most critical period in the region's history since the rape of Palestine."