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Bombs hit Gaza as UN urges truce Israelis snub UN ceasefire call
(40 minutes later)
Israeli aircraft continued to bomb Gaza overnight as the UN urged an immediate end to nearly two weeks of conflict between Israel and Hamas militants. Israel is to keep up its offensive in the Gaza Strip despite a UN call for an immediate end to nearly two weeks of conflict involving Hamas militants.
A Security Council resolution called for a ceasefire, access for aid workers and a lasting solution to the conflict. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the latest firing of rockets into Israel showed the resolution was "unworkable".
Overnight, at least 50 air strikes hit Gaza, one attack reportedly killing five Palestinians. Militants fired several rockets into southern Israel. The Security Council resolution demanded a truce, access for aid workers and an end to arms smuggling.
It is estimated 770 Palestinians and 14 Israelis have been killed so far. Israel continued its bombardment during the night and on Friday morning, carrying out at least 50 air strikes.
However Israeli military operations have now again been paused for three hours to allow aid in.
We were not consulted about this resolution and they have not taken into account the interests of our people Ayman Taha Hamas spokesman
Seventy-five lorries carrying food and medicine will be allowed into Gaza, Israel says.
Hamas has also dismissed the UN ceasefire call.
Ayman Taha, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said: "Even though we are the main actors on the ground in Gaza, we were not consulted about this resolution and they have not taken into account our vision and the interests of our people."
Meanwhile, witnesses have told the UN that about 30 Palestinians died earlier this week as Israeli forces shelled a house in Gaza City into which Israeli soldiers had previously moved more than 100 people, half of them children.Meanwhile, witnesses have told the UN that about 30 Palestinians died earlier this week as Israeli forces shelled a house in Gaza City into which Israeli soldiers had previously moved more than 100 people, half of them children.
Israel said the allegations into the shelling of the house in the Zeitoun district were being investigated.Israel said the allegations into the shelling of the house in the Zeitoun district were being investigated.
Since the current conflict began on 27 December, it is estimated that 770 Palestinians and 14 Israelis have been killed.
'Murderous organisations'
Israel's security cabinet met on Friday morning, hours after the Security Council vote.
"The firing of rockets this morning only goes to show that the UN decision is unworkable and will not be adhered to by the murderous Palestinian organisations," Ehud Olmert said in a statement.
GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in mapsGAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps
Speaking after a security cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said army operations inside Gaza would go on. According to Israeli media reports, Hamas militants fired at least 20 rockets at southern Israel on Friday morning.
"The firing of rockets this morning only goes to show that the UN decision is unworkable and will not be adhered to by the murderous Palestinian organisations," he said in a statement. Officials in Mr Ehud's office were quoted as saying "the Israeli military will continue to protect Israeli civilians and carry out its missions".
Earlier, Hamas officials dismissed the UN resolution as not being "in the best interest" of Palestinians. Israeli planes launched fresh strikes on targets in Gaza overnight, and at least five members of one family were killed in one attack, witnesses said.
Ayman Taha, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said: "Even though we are the main actors on the ground in Gaza, we were not consulted about this resolution and they have not taken into account our vision and the interests of our people." FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme In a report which could not be verified independently, Hamas said a bomb had flattened a five-storey apartment block in northern Gaza.
In another development, a prominent Egyptian cleric called on Muslims across the world to stage rallies on Friday to demonstrate anger at the violence.
Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who heads the Union of Islamic Scholars, said Friday prayers should be dedicated to expressing solidarity with the Palestinians.
Israel has stationed thousands of extra police in east Jerusalem, in case of protests after Muslim Friday prayers.
'Durable ceasefire''Durable ceasefire'
Early on Friday, Israeli planes launched fresh strikes on targets in Gaza. At least five members of one family were killed in one attack, witnesses said. Fourteen out of 15 Security Council members backed a resolution on the Gaza crisis, with the US abstaining.
In a report which could not be verified independently, Hamas said a bomb had flattened a five-storey apartment block in northern Gaza. Gaza survivors' accountsGaza offensive - in mapsIn pictures: Conflict continues Gaza survivors' accountsGaza offensive - in mapsIn pictures: Conflict continues
Reports of new attacks emerged as 14 out of 15 Security Council members backed a resolution on the crisis. The motion called for an "immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire" leading to the "full withdrawal" of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The resolution called for an "immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire" leading to the "full withdrawal" of Israeli forces from Gaza. It also demanded "the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance", measures to prevent arms smuggling to Palestinian militants and the opening of border crossings into Gaza.
It also called for "the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance", measures to prevent arms smuggling to Palestinian militants and the opening of border crossings into Gaza. The US abstained, thinking it "important to see the outcomes of the Egyptian mediation efforts, in order to see what this resolution might have been supporting", US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice explained.
It is the first time the Security Council has acted since the Israeli offensive in Gaza began on 27 December.
The US chose to abstain, thinking it "important to see the outcomes of the Egyptian mediation efforts, in order to see what this resolution might have been supporting", US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice explained.
Israeli officials visited Cairo on Thursday to hear details of a plan put forward by Egypt and France.Israeli officials visited Cairo on Thursday to hear details of a plan put forward by Egypt and France.
A Hamas delegation is also expected in the Egyptian capital at some stage for parallel "technical" talks, Egyptian diplomats said. A Hamas delegation was also expected in the Egyptian capital at some stage for parallel "technical" talks, Egyptian diplomats said.
Israel wants to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel and to stop Hamas smuggling weapons into Gaza via Egypt, while Hamas says any ceasefire deal must include an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza.Israel wants to stop rocket attacks on southern Israel and to stop Hamas smuggling weapons into Gaza via Egypt, while Hamas says any ceasefire deal must include an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza.
The Security Council's near-unanimous vote represents an important diplomatic punctuation mark in this crisis, correspondents say.The Security Council's near-unanimous vote represents an important diplomatic punctuation mark in this crisis, correspondents say.
But the US abstention weakened the impact of the vote because Washington's support would have placed more pressure on Israel to halt its offensive, they add.But the US abstention weakened the impact of the vote because Washington's support would have placed more pressure on Israel to halt its offensive, they add.
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