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| Gaza conflict: New exchanges amid Israeli soldier hunt | Gaza conflict: New exchanges amid Israeli soldier hunt |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Israel has carried out fresh attacks on Gaza and militants have launched more rockets into Israel as a hunt continues for a missing Israeli soldier. | Israel has carried out fresh attacks on Gaza and militants have launched more rockets into Israel as a hunt continues for a missing Israeli soldier. |
| Palestinian officials said 55 people had died in Israeli strikes on Saturday, most in Rafah, where the soldier, Hadar Goldin, went missing. | Palestinian officials said 55 people had died in Israeli strikes on Saturday, most in Rafah, where the soldier, Hadar Goldin, went missing. |
| A series of rocket attacks into Israel was reported on Saturday morning. | A series of rocket attacks into Israel was reported on Saturday morning. |
| Later Israel sent messages to Palestinians in northern Gaza saying that they could return home. | Later Israel sent messages to Palestinians in northern Gaza saying that they could return home. |
| "We have told Beit Lahia residents that they may return to their homes. We advised them to avoid explosives placed by Hamas across the area", the Israel Defence Forces tweeted. | "We have told Beit Lahia residents that they may return to their homes. We advised them to avoid explosives placed by Hamas across the area", the Israel Defence Forces tweeted. |
| Some 1,655 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 65 Israelis, all but two soldiers, have died in the conflict. | Some 1,655 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 65 Israelis, all but two soldiers, have died in the conflict. |
| A Thai worker was also killed in Israel. Some 8,900 Palestinians have also been injured, the health ministry in Gaza says. | A Thai worker was also killed in Israel. Some 8,900 Palestinians have also been injured, the health ministry in Gaza says. |
| A 72-hour ceasefire had been agreed, starting from Friday morning, but collapsed hours later. | A 72-hour ceasefire had been agreed, starting from Friday morning, but collapsed hours later. |
| Hamas accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire but the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had been forced to respond to militant rocket fire. | Hamas accused Israel of breaking the ceasefire but the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had been forced to respond to militant rocket fire. |
| On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi insisted an Egyptian ceasefire plan offered a "real chance" to end the bloodshed. | On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi insisted an Egyptian ceasefire plan offered a "real chance" to end the bloodshed. |
| 'Time is decisive' | 'Time is decisive' |
| Palestinian officials said that there had been a series of Israeli air strikes around Rafah since midnight, killing at least 35 people. | Palestinian officials said that there had been a series of Israeli air strikes around Rafah since midnight, killing at least 35 people. |
| Analysis: Mark Lowen, BBC News, Cairo | |
| Even if the peace talks do finally get going in Cairo, they will be complicated by a host of conflicting sympathies and regional tensions. Egypt, the traditional mediator between the Israelis and Palestinians, is no longer on an equal footing with the warring parties. | |
| Since the Muslim Brotherhood was overthrown and Mohammed Morsi deposed last year, the government of Abdul Fattah al-Sisi sees Hamas, an offshoot of the Brotherhood, as a terrorist organisation. Turkey and Qatar, the two regional negotiators, now have poor relations with Egypt due to their support for the Brotherhood. | |
| The Turkish prime minister recently called President Sisi an "illegitimate tyrant" and three journalists from the Qatari-based TV channel Al-Jazeera remain in prison for what Cairo calls "aiding" the Islamists. | |
| And of course the US and Israel refuse to talk directly to Hamas. Amidst this complex atmosphere full of animosity, it's unsurprising that there's little optimism here about a genuine breakthrough. | |
| They said that across Gaza overnight, 40 homes, three mosques and the Islamic University were hit. | They said that across Gaza overnight, 40 homes, three mosques and the Islamic University were hit. |
| The IDF said the university housed a "weapons development centre" and that five mosques containing Hamas command and training facilities had been targeted. | The IDF said the university housed a "weapons development centre" and that five mosques containing Hamas command and training facilities had been targeted. |
| Israeli media said that after a relatively quiet night, a number of rockets had been fired on Saturday morning, including at Tel Aviv. | Israeli media said that after a relatively quiet night, a number of rockets had been fired on Saturday morning, including at Tel Aviv. |
| The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, which controls Gaza, said it had fired three rockets at Tel Aviv. | The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, which controls Gaza, said it had fired three rockets at Tel Aviv. |
| At least two were reportedly shot down by the Iron Dome missile defence system. | At least two were reportedly shot down by the Iron Dome missile defence system. |
| Egypt's state-run news agency Mena reported on Saturday that Egypt's Rafah border crossing with Gaza had been reopened for humanitarian reasons, to help the casualties. | Egypt's state-run news agency Mena reported on Saturday that Egypt's Rafah border crossing with Gaza had been reopened for humanitarian reasons, to help the casualties. |
| Mr Sisi, in a news conference, said: "The Egyptian proposal is the real chance to find a solution to the crisis in Gaza and to end the bloodshed. | Mr Sisi, in a news conference, said: "The Egyptian proposal is the real chance to find a solution to the crisis in Gaza and to end the bloodshed. |
| "Time is decisive, we have to take advantage of it quickly to douse the fire... and to stop the bloodshed of Palestinians." | "Time is decisive, we have to take advantage of it quickly to douse the fire... and to stop the bloodshed of Palestinians." |
| Qassam Brigades' statement | Qassam Brigades' statement |
| The Qassam Brigades meanwhile said it had no information about the fate of 2nd Lt Hadar Goldin, 23. | The Qassam Brigades meanwhile said it had no information about the fate of 2nd Lt Hadar Goldin, 23. |
| Israel said he may have been captured during an ambush in which two other soldiers were killed. | Israel said he may have been captured during an ambush in which two other soldiers were killed. |
| In a statement early on Saturday, the Qassam Brigades said it lost contact with a group of fighters in the area where the soldier went missing, saying: "We believe they were all killed in the [Israeli] bombardment. | In a statement early on Saturday, the Qassam Brigades said it lost contact with a group of fighters in the area where the soldier went missing, saying: "We believe they were all killed in the [Israeli] bombardment. |
| "Assuming that they managed to seize the soldier during combat, we assess that he was also killed in the incident." | "Assuming that they managed to seize the soldier during combat, we assess that he was also killed in the incident." |
| US President Barack Obama on Friday called for the release of Lt Goldin. | US President Barack Obama on Friday called for the release of Lt Goldin. |
| Mr Obama said: "If [Hamas] are serious about trying to trying to resolve this situation, that soldier needs to be unconditionally released, as soon as possible." | Mr Obama said: "If [Hamas] are serious about trying to trying to resolve this situation, that soldier needs to be unconditionally released, as soon as possible." |
| The capture of soldiers is a particular concern for Israeli authorities. Conscript Gilad Shalit was held for five years before being exchanged for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. | The capture of soldiers is a particular concern for Israeli authorities. Conscript Gilad Shalit was held for five years before being exchanged for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. |
| Mr Obama also urged the protection of civilians. | Mr Obama also urged the protection of civilians. |
| He said: "We have been clear that innocent civilians in Gaza caught in the crossfire have to weigh on our conscience and we have to do more to protect them." | He said: "We have been clear that innocent civilians in Gaza caught in the crossfire have to weigh on our conscience and we have to do more to protect them." |
| The US Congress on Friday passed a $225m (£134m) bill to help restock Israel's Iron Dome defence system. | The US Congress on Friday passed a $225m (£134m) bill to help restock Israel's Iron Dome defence system. |
| Israel began an aerial campaign on 8 July with the intention of halting rocket attacks from Gaza, and later launched ground operations to target rocket launching sites and tunnels use by militants to infiltrate Israel. | Israel began an aerial campaign on 8 July with the intention of halting rocket attacks from Gaza, and later launched ground operations to target rocket launching sites and tunnels use by militants to infiltrate Israel. |
| There have been numerous attempts to hold ceasefires but none have lasted, with both sides accusing each other of breaking the truces. | There have been numerous attempts to hold ceasefires but none have lasted, with both sides accusing each other of breaking the truces. |
| Are you in Gaza or Israel? Have you been affected by the violence? You can send us your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Gaza Israel". If you are willing to feature in an interview, please ensure you include your contact details and a photograph of yourself to help us illustrate the story. | Are you in Gaza or Israel? Have you been affected by the violence? You can send us your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Gaza Israel". If you are willing to feature in an interview, please ensure you include your contact details and a photograph of yourself to help us illustrate the story. |