This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/26/israel-extends-truce-with-hamas

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Gaza truce in peril after Hamas attacks on Israel continue Gaza truce in peril after Hamas attacks on Israel continue
(about 1 hour later)
The war in Gaza appeared to be on the brink of resuming after an extension to a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire was rejected by Hamas amid reports of renewed rocket fire towards Israel. Rocket fire from Gaza resumed on Saturday night with warning sirens sounding across central and southern Israel in what appeared to be a rebuff by Hamas to attempts at extending a 12-hour humanitarian truce, which could risk a new escalation of the war.
The temporary truce saw thousands of Palestinians venturing out from homes and shelters to find that whole streets and neighbourhoods had been destroyed in the past week. Thousands of people in Gaza ventured out from homes and shelters on Saturday to find that whole streets and neighbourhoods had been destroyed in the past week after Israel and Hamas both agreed to a UN request to cease military activity from 8am until 8pm. But Hamas's armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said that it had resumed rocket fire despite reports that Israel had agreed to a four-hour extension of the truce.
The Israeli cabinet had earlier agreed a four-hour extension but Hamas's spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, said the group rejected Israel's proposal. Israel said the three rockets were fired more than an hour after the period for the initial lull had ended as sirens across southern and central Israel warned of incoming rocket fire. Israel's cabinet had earlier met in emergency session as it came under intense international pressure to halt the conflict which has claimed at least 1,000 lives in 19 days. Foreign ministers from seven nations – the US, France, Britain, Italy, Germany, Turkey and Qatar – had gathered in Paris to call for an extension of the 12-hour humanitarian truce. The renewed attacks – and an unconfirmed report that a Palestinian in southern Gaza had been killed by Israeli tank fire after the 8pm end-of-truce deadline – followed an appeal by the foreign ministers of seven nations to extend the 12-hour pause in fighting. Envoys from the US, France, Britain, Italy, Germany, Turkey and Qatar – had gathered in Paris to call for an extension of the 12-hour humanitarian truce.
The group convened, with a senior EU representative, at the request of US secretary of state John Kerry, who failed to win backing from Israel or Hamas for a week-long truce on Friday. There were no envoys from Israel, Egypt or the Palestinian Authority in attendance.The group convened, with a senior EU representative, at the request of US secretary of state John Kerry, who failed to win backing from Israel or Hamas for a week-long truce on Friday. There were no envoys from Israel, Egypt or the Palestinian Authority in attendance.
"All of us call on the parties to extend the military ceasefire that is currently under way," said French foreign minister Laurent Fabius. "All of us want to obtain, as quickly as possible, a durable, negotiated ceasefire that responds both to Israeli needs in terms of security and to Palestinian needs in terms of the social-economic development [of Gaza] and access to the territory of Gaza.""All of us call on the parties to extend the military ceasefire that is currently under way," said French foreign minister Laurent Fabius. "All of us want to obtain, as quickly as possible, a durable, negotiated ceasefire that responds both to Israeli needs in terms of security and to Palestinian needs in terms of the social-economic development [of Gaza] and access to the territory of Gaza."
UK foreign secretary Philip Hammond said: "The necessity right now is to stop the loss of life. And we stop the loss of life by getting this ceasefire to roll over for 12 hours, 24 hours or 48 hours – and then again until we have established the level of confidence that allows the parties to sit around a table to talk about the substantive issues."UK foreign secretary Philip Hammond said: "The necessity right now is to stop the loss of life. And we stop the loss of life by getting this ceasefire to roll over for 12 hours, 24 hours or 48 hours – and then again until we have established the level of confidence that allows the parties to sit around a table to talk about the substantive issues."
In Gaza, as the Palestinian death toll in the 19-day conflict topped 1,000, scenes of devastation were discovered by those who returned to areas which had been the centre of particularly intense fighting. Eighty-five corpses were pulled from rubble, many of them partially decomposed, said Palestinian health official Ashraf al-Kidra.
Shortly before the ceasefire took effect, at least 16 members of one family, including several children, had been killed in an air strike in Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip. The family had recently fled there to escape fighting in a nearby village, according to a Palestinian health official.Shortly before the ceasefire took effect, at least 16 members of one family, including several children, had been killed in an air strike in Khan Younis, in the south of the Gaza Strip. The family had recently fled there to escape fighting in a nearby village, according to a Palestinian health official.
On Saturday tens of thousands of people marched through London to protest against Israel's military campaign, making clear their anger outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington, west London, before marching on to Westminster.On Saturday tens of thousands of people marched through London to protest against Israel's military campaign, making clear their anger outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington, west London, before marching on to Westminster.
Condemnation of both Israel and Hamas has intensified. Former Labour foreign secretary Jack Straw described Israel's actions as amoral and deeply damaging to its own cause. "It is time for Israel to stop," he told the Observer. "Both because what it is doing is abjectly amoral but also in terms of its own self-preservation. Its actions are doing incremental damage to everything Israel is supposed to stand for."Condemnation of both Israel and Hamas has intensified. Former Labour foreign secretary Jack Straw described Israel's actions as amoral and deeply damaging to its own cause. "It is time for Israel to stop," he told the Observer. "Both because what it is doing is abjectly amoral but also in terms of its own self-preservation. Its actions are doing incremental damage to everything Israel is supposed to stand for."
Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the Israelis were using sophisticated weaponry against innocent civilians when they could have deployed them in a more targeted way to limit loss of life.Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the Israelis were using sophisticated weaponry against innocent civilians when they could have deployed them in a more targeted way to limit loss of life.
However, another former foreign secretary, the Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind, refused to single out Israel, saying both sides should agree an unconditional ceasefire. "I would like to see that, but it can't be observed by one side alone," he said.However, another former foreign secretary, the Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind, refused to single out Israel, saying both sides should agree an unconditional ceasefire. "I would like to see that, but it can't be observed by one side alone," he said.
Kerry had expressed confidence on Friday that there was a framework for a ceasefire agreement which could ultimately succeed, and that "serious progress" had been made, although he admitted there was more work to do. Kerry had expressed confidence on Friday that there was a framework for a ceasefire agreement which could ultimately succeed, and that "serious progress" had been made, although he admitted there was more work to do. He has been leading international efforts to reach a truce along with UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, while keeping in regular contact with the foreign ministers of Turkey and Qatar, which have been acting as interlocutors with Hamas.
He has been leading international efforts to reach a truce along with UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, while keeping in regular contact with the foreign ministers of Turkey and Qatar, which have been acting as interlocutors with Hamas.
But there were also signals that if the ceasefire ended, the fighting could intensify. Israel's defence minister, Moshe Ya'alon, said: "At the end of the operation, Hamas will have to think very hard if it is worth it to taunt us in the future. You need to be ready for the possibility that very soon we will order the military to significantly broaden ground activity in Gaza."But there were also signals that if the ceasefire ended, the fighting could intensify. Israel's defence minister, Moshe Ya'alon, said: "At the end of the operation, Hamas will have to think very hard if it is worth it to taunt us in the future. You need to be ready for the possibility that very soon we will order the military to significantly broaden ground activity in Gaza."
Israeli troops have so far discovered 31 tunnels in Gaza and destroyed half of them. Israel says the tunnels are intended to be used to launch cross-border attacks. The Israeli government also wants Hamas to be prevented from rearming as a condition for a permanent ceasefire.Israeli troops have so far discovered 31 tunnels in Gaza and destroyed half of them. Israel says the tunnels are intended to be used to launch cross-border attacks. The Israeli government also wants Hamas to be prevented from rearming as a condition for a permanent ceasefire.
Hamas says it will not halt its rocket fire until it has firm guarantees that Gaza's seven-year-old border blockade will be lifted. The violence has spread to the West Bank and East Jerusalem in recent days. Nine Palestinians have been killed as protests over the bloodshed in Gaza have erupted into clashes with Israeli security forces. Hundreds more have been wounded. Hamas says it will not halt its rocket fire until it has firm guarantees that Gaza's seven-year border blockade will be lifted. The violence has spread to the West Bank and East Jerusalem in recent days. Nine Palestinians have been killed as protests over the bloodshed in Gaza have erupted into clashes with Israeli security forces. Hundreds more have been wounded.
The Palestine Liberation Organisation called for more demonstrations in the West Bank and said it was helping to try to secure a ceasefire deal.The Palestine Liberation Organisation called for more demonstrations in the West Bank and said it was helping to try to secure a ceasefire deal.
As well as the more than 1,000 people who have been killed in Gaza, at least 6,000 people have been injured. The UN said that more than 160,000 people had sought shelter in its buildings, and thousands more had fled their homes to stay with relatives and friends in what were thought to be safer areas. At least 6,000 people have also been injured in the conflict. The UN said more than 160,000 people had sought shelter in its buildings, and thousands more had fled their homes to stay with relatives and friends in what seemed safer areas.
The Israeli Defence Forces said 40 of its soldiers had been killed in the conflict. Three civilians have also died in rocket attacks on Israel. UK international development secretary Justine Greening announced that the UK would give an extra £2m in emergency assistance to the UN Relief and Works Agency's Gaza Flash Appeal. The Israeli Defence Forces said 40 of its soldiers had been killed. Three civilians have also died in rocket attacks on Israel. UK international development secretary Justine Greening announced that the UK would give an extra £2m in emergency assistance to the UN Relief and Works Agency's Gaza Flash Appeal.