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| Scale of Gaza destruction emerges | Scale of Gaza destruction emerges |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The full scale of devastation in Gaza following Israel's three-week offensive is becoming clear, after both Israel and Hamas declared ceasefires. | The full scale of devastation in Gaza following Israel's three-week offensive is becoming clear, after both Israel and Hamas declared ceasefires. |
| UN official John Ging said half a million people had been without water since the conflict began, and huge numbers of people were without power. | UN official John Ging said half a million people had been without water since the conflict began, and huge numbers of people were without power. |
| Four thousand homes are ruined and tens of thousands of people are homeless. | Four thousand homes are ruined and tens of thousands of people are homeless. |
| Israeli spokesman Mark Regev said he expected border crossings to open for aid later on Monday. | Israeli spokesman Mark Regev said he expected border crossings to open for aid later on Monday. |
| "We are going to see a massive volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip," he told the BBC. | |
| "Medicines, foodstuffs, energy, all will be reaching the Gaza Strip in the volume that is required and in an expeditious manner." | |
| Meanwhile the Arab League, meeting in Kuwait, is expected to discuss a proposal for a $2m fund for reconstruction in Gaza. | |
| Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said he wanted troops to leave as quickly as possible, and some have already left. | Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said he wanted troops to leave as quickly as possible, and some have already left. |
| Israel called a ceasefire on Saturday, saying it had met its war aims. | Israel called a ceasefire on Saturday, saying it had met its war aims. |
| Hamas later declared its own truce with one of its leaders claiming a "great victory" over Israel. | Hamas later declared its own truce with one of its leaders claiming a "great victory" over Israel. |
| Big questions | Big questions |
| The BBC's Bethany Bell in Jerusalem says many people face shortages of food, medicine and fuel. | The BBC's Bethany Bell in Jerusalem says many people face shortages of food, medicine and fuel. |
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| The BBC's Paul Wood sees first hand the damage in Gaza | The BBC's Paul Wood sees first hand the damage in Gaza |
| Mr Ging, director of operations for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), said most important was how to get basic supplies into Gaza. | Mr Ging, director of operations for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), said most important was how to get basic supplies into Gaza. |
| "We have a big recovery operation ahead of us, reconstruction - none of it will be possible of course, on any scale, until we get crossing points open," he told the BBC. | "We have a big recovery operation ahead of us, reconstruction - none of it will be possible of course, on any scale, until we get crossing points open," he told the BBC. |
| CONFLICT IN FIGURES More than 1,300 Palestinians killedThirteen Israeli deathsMore than 4,000 buildings destroyed in Gaza, more than 20,000 severely damagedTens of thousands of Gazans homeless In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps | CONFLICT IN FIGURES More than 1,300 Palestinians killedThirteen Israeli deathsMore than 4,000 buildings destroyed in Gaza, more than 20,000 severely damagedTens of thousands of Gazans homeless In depth: Gaza conflictQ&A: Gaza conflictWho are Hamas?Middle East conflict: History in maps |
| Unrwa was keen to reopen its schools, Mr Ging said, where 50,000 people were sheltering. Tens of thousands have been made homeless by the bombardment. | Unrwa was keen to reopen its schools, Mr Ging said, where 50,000 people were sheltering. Tens of thousands have been made homeless by the bombardment. |
| Big questions remain, our correspondent says, such as who will police Gaza's southern border and how much power Hamas still has. | Big questions remain, our correspondent says, such as who will police Gaza's southern border and how much power Hamas still has. |
| At least 1,300 Palestinians, according to Palestinian sources, and 13 Israelis have been killed since Israel launched its offensive on 27 December. Palestinian medical sources say at least 95 bodies have been pulled from the rubble since Israel halted its offensive. | At least 1,300 Palestinians, according to Palestinian sources, and 13 Israelis have been killed since Israel launched its offensive on 27 December. Palestinian medical sources say at least 95 bodies have been pulled from the rubble since Israel halted its offensive. |
| Correspondents say the ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile, although no air strikes, rocket attacks or major clashes were reported overnight. | Correspondents say the ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile, although no air strikes, rocket attacks or major clashes were reported overnight. |
| Palestinian militants fired about 20 rockets over the border after the Israeli ceasefire announcement, and Israel responded with an air attack. | Palestinian militants fired about 20 rockets over the border after the Israeli ceasefire announcement, and Israel responded with an air attack. |
| 'Israeli failure' | 'Israeli failure' |
| Surrounded by an array of European political leaders, some of whom were highly critical of Israel's tactics in the conflict with Hamas, the Israeli prime minister said his country was not interested in staying in the Gaza Strip. | Surrounded by an array of European political leaders, some of whom were highly critical of Israel's tactics in the conflict with Hamas, the Israeli prime minister said his country was not interested in staying in the Gaza Strip. |
| GAZA LATEST href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7837155.stm">In pictures: Gaza ceasefire class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7836596.stm">Gazans confront shattered livesBroken town shows destructionBowen diary: Real calm may come "We didn't set out to control Gaza, we don't want to remain in Gaza and we intend on leaving Gaza as quickly as possible," he said. | |
| Anonymous Israeli officials, quoted by AP news agency, said the withdrawal would be completed before US President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration on Tuesday. | Anonymous Israeli officials, quoted by AP news agency, said the withdrawal would be completed before US President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration on Tuesday. |
| Correspondents say Israeli leaders want to get off to a smooth start with the new administration in Washington. | Correspondents say Israeli leaders want to get off to a smooth start with the new administration in Washington. |
| Israelis and Palestinians give their views on Israel's ceasefire announcementIn pictures The European leaders had travelled to Israel to lend their support to the ceasefires. | Israelis and Palestinians give their views on Israel's ceasefire announcementIn pictures The European leaders had travelled to Israel to lend their support to the ceasefires. |
| The top Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, said Israel had "failed to achieve its goals". | The top Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, said Israel had "failed to achieve its goals". |
| In a speech broadcast on Hamas TV station, he said: "God has granted us a great victory, not for one faction, or party, or area, but for our entire people." | In a speech broadcast on Hamas TV station, he said: "God has granted us a great victory, not for one faction, or party, or area, but for our entire people." |
| Hamas said it would hold fire for a week to give Israel time to withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip. | Hamas said it would hold fire for a week to give Israel time to withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip. |