This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28582853
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Israel 'to destroy' Hamas Gaza tunnels - Netanyahu | Israel 'to destroy' Hamas Gaza tunnels - Netanyahu |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Israel will not stop its operation in Gaza until the tunnels constructed by Hamas militants have been destroyed, PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said. | Israel will not stop its operation in Gaza until the tunnels constructed by Hamas militants have been destroyed, PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said. |
| He said he was determined to destroy the tunnels, which militants use to infiltrate Israeli territory, "with or without a ceasefire". | He said he was determined to destroy the tunnels, which militants use to infiltrate Israeli territory, "with or without a ceasefire". |
| Some 425,000 people - about a quarter of Gaza's population - have been displaced by the fighting, the UN says. | Some 425,000 people - about a quarter of Gaza's population - have been displaced by the fighting, the UN says. |
| It said the people there were "facing a precipice", and called for action. | It said the people there were "facing a precipice", and called for action. |
| Since Israel began its offensive in Gaza on 8 July, 1,400 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. | Since Israel began its offensive in Gaza on 8 July, 1,400 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. |
| It said 173 people had been killed within the past 24 hours. | It said 173 people had been killed within the past 24 hours. |
| Some 58 Israelis have been killed, of whom 56 were soldiers and two civilians. A Thai worker in Israel has also died. | Some 58 Israelis have been killed, of whom 56 were soldiers and two civilians. A Thai worker in Israel has also died. |
| Most of Hamas' rockets into Israel are intercepted and destroyed by Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system. | Most of Hamas' rockets into Israel are intercepted and destroyed by Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system. |
| The BBC has seen evidence that appears to confirm hackers stole several secret military documents from two government-owned Israeli companies that developed the Iron Dome. | The BBC has seen evidence that appears to confirm hackers stole several secret military documents from two government-owned Israeli companies that developed the Iron Dome. |
| More detail: Life in the Gaza Strip | More detail: Life in the Gaza Strip |
| The UN has strongly condemned the continuing violence, urging both sides to agree to daily pauses in the fighting to help relief efforts. | The UN has strongly condemned the continuing violence, urging both sides to agree to daily pauses in the fighting to help relief efforts. |
| "The reality of Gaza today is that no place is safe," UN humanitarian chief Baroness Valerie Amos told the Security Council. | "The reality of Gaza today is that no place is safe," UN humanitarian chief Baroness Valerie Amos told the Security Council. |
| The head of Unrwa, the main UN relief agency in Gaza, warned that "the population is facing a precipice". | The head of Unrwa, the main UN relief agency in Gaza, warned that "the population is facing a precipice". |
| "Should further large-scale displacement indeed occur, the occupying power (Israel), according to international humanitarian law, will have to assume direct responsibility to assist these people," Pierre Kraehenbuehl said. | "Should further large-scale displacement indeed occur, the occupying power (Israel), according to international humanitarian law, will have to assume direct responsibility to assist these people," Pierre Kraehenbuehl said. |
| Earlier on Thursday Israel called up 16,000 reservists, fuelling speculation that the ground campaign would be widened. | Earlier on Thursday Israel called up 16,000 reservists, fuelling speculation that the ground campaign would be widened. |
| But the Israeli army told the BBC that the new reservists would relieve a similar number who were standing down. | But the Israeli army told the BBC that the new reservists would relieve a similar number who were standing down. |
| The army said a total of 59,000 reservists were deployed in Gaza. | The army said a total of 59,000 reservists were deployed in Gaza. |
| Tunnel threat | Tunnel threat |
| Israel's offensive, named Operation Protective Edge, began with a focus on Hamas' rocket-launching capability. | Israel's offensive, named Operation Protective Edge, began with a focus on Hamas' rocket-launching capability. |
| But it has since expanded to take in the threat from tunnels. | But it has since expanded to take in the threat from tunnels. |
| After air strikes began, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) discovered an extensive network of tunnels leading from Gaza into Israel. | After air strikes began, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) discovered an extensive network of tunnels leading from Gaza into Israel. |
| Hamas militants have launched several attacks from the tunnels, penetrating Israeli territory and killing a number of soldiers. | Hamas militants have launched several attacks from the tunnels, penetrating Israeli territory and killing a number of soldiers. |
| Reports from Israel suggest the discovery of the tunnels - and the reality that infiltrators have used them to kill Israelis inside their own country - has shocked many Israelis and bolstered support for the operation. | Reports from Israel suggest the discovery of the tunnels - and the reality that infiltrators have used them to kill Israelis inside their own country - has shocked many Israelis and bolstered support for the operation. |
| It launched a ground operation to destroy the tunnels on the night of 17 July, and insists that any ceasefire deal includes the right to continue that mission. | It launched a ground operation to destroy the tunnels on the night of 17 July, and insists that any ceasefire deal includes the right to continue that mission. |
| "I won't agree to any proposal that will not enable the Israeli military to complete this important task for the sake of Israel's security," Mr Netanyahu said. | "I won't agree to any proposal that will not enable the Israeli military to complete this important task for the sake of Israel's security," Mr Netanyahu said. |
| The tunnels would allow Hamas to "abduct and murder civilians and IDF soldiers while simultaneously attacking from the tunnels penetrating our territory," he added. | The tunnels would allow Hamas to "abduct and murder civilians and IDF soldiers while simultaneously attacking from the tunnels penetrating our territory," he added. |
| Gaza 'desperate' | Gaza 'desperate' |
| On the ground in Gaza, Israeli shelling continued on Thursday morning, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports. | On the ground in Gaza, Israeli shelling continued on Thursday morning, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports. |
| Meanwhile, a series of rocket alert sirens sounded across southern Israel. Sirens in the town of Sderot sounded several times as Mr Netanyahu spoke. | Meanwhile, a series of rocket alert sirens sounded across southern Israel. Sirens in the town of Sderot sounded several times as Mr Netanyahu spoke. |
| In the most controversial incident on Wednesday, at least 16 people were killed when shells hit a UN-run school in the Jabaliya district of Gaza City. | In the most controversial incident on Wednesday, at least 16 people were killed when shells hit a UN-run school in the Jabaliya district of Gaza City. |
| The UN said "all available evidence" suggested Israeli artillery was the cause. | The UN said "all available evidence" suggested Israeli artillery was the cause. |
| Spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC that Israel would apologise if it discovered it was responsible. | Spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC that Israel would apologise if it discovered it was responsible. |
| "We have a policy - we don't target civilians," he said. | "We have a policy - we don't target civilians," he said. |
| "It's not clear to us that it was our fire but we know for a fact there was hostile fire on our people from the vicinity of the school." | "It's not clear to us that it was our fire but we know for a fact there was hostile fire on our people from the vicinity of the school." |
| Later on Wednesday at least 17 were killed in a strike on a busy market in Shejaiya - a district already badly damaged by Israeli artillery. | Later on Wednesday at least 17 were killed in a strike on a busy market in Shejaiya - a district already badly damaged by Israeli artillery. |
| Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and only pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005. | Israel occupied Gaza in the 1967 Middle East war and only pulled its troops and settlers out in 2005. |
| Israel considered this the end of the occupation, but it still exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, water and airspace. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border. | Israel considered this the end of the occupation, but it still exercises control over most of Gaza's borders, water and airspace. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border. |
| Hamas says it will not stop fighting until a blockade, maintained by both Israel and Egypt, is lifted. | Hamas says it will not stop fighting until a blockade, maintained by both Israel and Egypt, is lifted. |
| Are you in Gaza or Israel? Are you affected by the violence? You can send us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukusing the subject line "Gaza Israel". | |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | |
| Read the terms and conditions |