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| Israelis 'edge into urban Gaza' | Israelis 'edge into urban Gaza' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Israeli forces are moving slowly into Gaza's most densely populated areas, reports say, as they continue air and ground attacks on Hamas militants. | Israeli forces are moving slowly into Gaza's most densely populated areas, reports say, as they continue air and ground attacks on Hamas militants. |
| Some reservists are in action on the ground, but the army denied escalating the war to a "third phase" - an all-out push on Gaza City and other towns. | Some reservists are in action on the ground, but the army denied escalating the war to a "third phase" - an all-out push on Gaza City and other towns. |
| Fewer air strikes were carried out overnight - 12 compared with as many as 60 on previous nights. | Fewer air strikes were carried out overnight - 12 compared with as many as 60 on previous nights. |
| At least nine rockets or mortars were fired on Israel from Gaza. | At least nine rockets or mortars were fired on Israel from Gaza. |
| Israeli spokesman Mark Regev said Hamas's military machine was taking "serious punishment" and Israel was "advancing towards the end game". | Israeli spokesman Mark Regev said Hamas's military machine was taking "serious punishment" and Israel was "advancing towards the end game". |
| Since the majority of the Hamas militants are pretty much in hiding in those places, mainly urban places, then we operate in those areas Maj Avital LeibovichIsraeli military spokeswoman Gaza offensive - in mapsGaza survivors' accounts Reports suggest diplomatic efforts between Egypt and Hamas in Cairo are progressing. | Since the majority of the Hamas militants are pretty much in hiding in those places, mainly urban places, then we operate in those areas Maj Avital LeibovichIsraeli military spokeswoman Gaza offensive - in mapsGaza survivors' accounts Reports suggest diplomatic efforts between Egypt and Hamas in Cairo are progressing. |
| After meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair said elements were in place for a ceasefire agreement. | After meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Middle East Quartet envoy Tony Blair said elements were in place for a ceasefire agreement. |
| "I am hopeful we can put an agreement together but it's going to have to be worked on very hard and it's got to be credible," he told journalists. | "I am hopeful we can put an agreement together but it's going to have to be worked on very hard and it's got to be credible," he told journalists. |
| Reservists 'in training' | Reservists 'in training' |
| At least five Palestinians including one militant were killed on Monday, bringing the total Palestinian death toll during the conflict to about 900, Palestinian medics said. Israel says 13 Israelis have died. | At least five Palestinians including one militant were killed on Monday, bringing the total Palestinian death toll during the conflict to about 900, Palestinian medics said. Israel says 13 Israelis have died. |
| Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip, making it impossible to independently confirm such figures. | Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip, making it impossible to independently confirm such figures. |
| There were reports of fierce fighting around Gaza City ahead of the daily three-hour truce to allow aid deliveries to Gaza. | |
| Analysis: Where is Israel heading?Why Gaza war looks set to go onIn pictures: Crisis into third week Israeli military spokeswoman Maj Avital Leibovich said troops were continuing their advance into urban areas. | Analysis: Where is Israel heading?Why Gaza war looks set to go onIn pictures: Crisis into third week Israeli military spokeswoman Maj Avital Leibovich said troops were continuing their advance into urban areas. |
| "Since the majority of the Hamas militants are pretty much in hiding in those places, mainly urban places, then we operate in those areas," she said, quoted by AP news agency. | "Since the majority of the Hamas militants are pretty much in hiding in those places, mainly urban places, then we operate in those areas," she said, quoted by AP news agency. |
| Reservists are reported to be securing areas gained in the fighting. | Reservists are reported to be securing areas gained in the fighting. |
| Brig Gen Avi Benayahu, Israel's chief military spokesman, said thousands more - who would comprise a new, expanded phase in the ground operation if it was ordered - were still in training and had not been deployed. | Brig Gen Avi Benayahu, Israel's chief military spokesman, said thousands more - who would comprise a new, expanded phase in the ground operation if it was ordered - were still in training and had not been deployed. |
| Israel hopes the scale of its operation will greatly reduce the number of missiles fired from Gaza into southern Israel, while eroding support for Hamas. | Israel hopes the scale of its operation will greatly reduce the number of missiles fired from Gaza into southern Israel, while eroding support for Hamas. |
| Militants fired at least nine rockets on Monday, one on the town of Ashkelon, striking a house, and one on Kiryat Gat, but none of them caused casualties. | Militants fired at least nine rockets on Monday, one on the town of Ashkelon, striking a house, and one on Kiryat Gat, but none of them caused casualties. |
| Mr Regev told the BBC Israel's goals were "very minimalistic" and "purely defensive". | Mr Regev told the BBC Israel's goals were "very minimalistic" and "purely defensive". |
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| Gaza facing 'medical crisis' | Gaza facing 'medical crisis' |
| "We refuse, we refuse to return to a reality in which the Israeli civilian population has to live in that constant fear of an incoming Hamas rocket," he said. | "We refuse, we refuse to return to a reality in which the Israeli civilian population has to live in that constant fear of an incoming Hamas rocket," he said. |
| On Sunday Israel dropped new leaflets into Gaza and left phone messages warning Gazans to stay away from areas used by Hamas, AP reported. | On Sunday Israel dropped new leaflets into Gaza and left phone messages warning Gazans to stay away from areas used by Hamas, AP reported. |
| Both Hamas and Israel have rejected last week's UN resolution calling for immediate ceasefire. | Both Hamas and Israel have rejected last week's UN resolution calling for immediate ceasefire. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said "nobody should be allowed to decide for us if we are allowed to strike". | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said "nobody should be allowed to decide for us if we are allowed to strike". |
| 'Attacks must stop' | 'Attacks must stop' |
| As the fighting continued, a spokesman for the charity Save the Children said it was impossible for aid workers to do their jobs in Gaza. | As the fighting continued, a spokesman for the charity Save the Children said it was impossible for aid workers to do their jobs in Gaza. |
| GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps | GAZA CRISIS BACKGROUND Profile: Gaza StripQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps |
| "We need the violence to stop. We need the attacks to stop. It's only when that happens that we will be able to operate," Benedict Dempsey said. | "We need the violence to stop. We need the attacks to stop. It's only when that happens that we will be able to operate," Benedict Dempsey said. |
| Aid agencies say Gaza's 1.5 million residents are in urgent need of food and medical aid. | Aid agencies say Gaza's 1.5 million residents are in urgent need of food and medical aid. |