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Israel Gaza conflict: Gazan officials say Sunday was 'deadliest day' Israel launches new strikes on Gaza as calls for ceasefire grow
(about 2 hours later)
Homes and buildings destroyed in Israel and GazaHomes and buildings destroyed in Israel and Gaza
Palestinian officials in Gaza say Sunday was the deadliest day since the current fighting with Israel began. Israel conducted dozens of air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Monday, after Palestinian militants fired barrages of rockets at southern Israeli cities.
Forty-two people were killed in Israeli air strikes on the territory on Sunday. The pre-dawn raids on Gaza were some of the heaviest seen since the fighting began a week ago.
Israel's army say Palestinian militants have fired more than 3,000 rockets at Israel over the past week. Israel said it hit facilities belonging to the militant group Hamas and several commanders' homes, but main roads and power lines were also damaged.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that further fighting could plunge the region into an "uncontainable crisis". Meanwhile, international calls for a ceasefire continue to mount.
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Sunday, and Secretary-General António Guterres warned that further fighting had "the potential to unleash an uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis".
He pleaded for an immediate end to the "utterly appalling" violence.He pleaded for an immediate end to the "utterly appalling" violence.
Early on Monday, Israeli warplanes launched 80 air strikes on several areas of Gaza City, shortly after Hamas militants fired a barrage of rockets at southern Israel. But there were no signs of that happening as the conflict entered its second week.
It began after weeks of spiralling Israeli-Palestinian tension in occupied East Jerusalem that culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas, which controls Gaza, began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes.
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The Israel-Palestinian conflict explainedThe Israel-Palestinian conflict explained
Israel-Gaza: What the law says about the fighting The Israeli military said more than 50 warplanes conducted a 20-minute attack on the Gaza Strip shortly before dawn on Monday.
The UN has also warned of fuel shortages in Gaza which could lead to hospitals and other facilities losing power. They struck 35 "terror targets" and destroyed more than 15km (9.3 miles) of an underground tunnel network belonging to Hamas, it added.
Lynn Hastings, UN deputy special co-ordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, told the BBC that she had appealed to Israeli authorities to allow the UN to bring in fuel and supplies but was told it was not safe. The military also said it had hit the homes of nine "high-ranking" Hamas commanders.
Gaza officials said 42 people, including 16 women and 10 children, died in Sunday's Israeli air strikes. There were no immediate reports of casualties, but Palestinian officials in Gaza said the strikes had caused widespread power cuts and damaged hundreds of homes and other buildings.
Ten people, including two children, have been killed in rocket attacks on Israel since the fighting began last Monday, Israel said. "There have never been strikes of this magnitude," one resident told the AFP news agency. Mad Abed Rabbo, 39, said he had felt "horror and fear" during the strikes.
The overall death toll in Gaza now stands at 197 people, including 58 children and 34 women, with 1,230 injured, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. Israel says dozens of militants are among the dead. The overall death toll in Gaza now stands at 197 people, including 58 children and 34 women, with 1,230 injured, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel says dozens of militants are among the dead.
What happened on Sunday?
Israeli air strikes hit a busy street in Gaza just after midnight on Sunday, causing at least three buildings to collapse and dozens of deaths.
Hamas launched series of rockets towards southern Israel overnight and during the afternoon.
Millions of Israelis scrambled to safe rooms or shelters as sirens went off. Palestinians also tried to take precautions, but in the densely packed and poorly resourced Gaza Strip, many had nowhere to go.
Rescuers in Gaza have spent much of the day searching through the debris of the strikes
Riyad Eshkuntana told Reuters news agency he put his daughters to sleep in a room of his house that he thought was the furthest from the explosions. Only one of his daughters, Suzy, six, survived the night. His wife and three other children died.
"I ran to check upon the girls," said Mr Eshkuntana. "My wife jumped, she hugged the girls to take them out from the room, then a second airstrike hit the room... The ceilings were destroyed and I was under the rubble."
Rescuers carry six-year-old Suzy from the rubble of a building in Gaza
The Israeli military later said it had conducted strikes on a militant tunnel system in the area. The tunnels' collapse caused the houses above to collapse as well, leading to unintended civilian casualties, it said.
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Israel's military says it has been targeting leaders and infrastructure linked to Hamas.
It said it had also struck the homes of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and his brother Muhammad Sinwar, whom it described as head of logistics and manpower for the movement.
It was unlikely they were at home at the time of the strikes, according to the Associated Press news agency.
Gazan rescue workers spent the day trying to rescue people from under the debris from the strikes.
The Palestinian health ministry said a doctor was among the dead: Dr Ayman Abu Al-Ouf, head of internal medicine at Shifa hospital and part of the coronavirus team.
Israel says more than 3,000 rockets have been launched by Palestinian militants over the past week
In Israel, Hamas rockets hit Ashkelon, Ashdod, Netivot and other parts of central and southern Israel. There were no reports of casualties.
The Israeli military said it had seen the highest ever concentration of rocket attacks on its territory during the past week.
The country's Iron Dome defence system has intercepted many of them. But some caused damage to cars and buildings, including the Yad Michael synagogue in Ashkelon, where a hole was blasted through the wall just before an evening service for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. No-one was reported hurt and locals moved quickly to clear up the damage so the service could go ahead, according to the Times of Israel.
Children are seen inside a bomb shelter in Ashkelon, southern Israel
How likely is a ceasefire?How likely is a ceasefire?
By Paul Adams, BBC diplomatic correspondentBy Paul Adams, BBC diplomatic correspondent
Is Israel's military operation in Gaza, dubbed "Guardian of the Walls", nearing its conclusion?Is Israel's military operation in Gaza, dubbed "Guardian of the Walls", nearing its conclusion?
Not obviously. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks are continuing with "full force" and will "take time".Not obviously. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks are continuing with "full force" and will "take time".
In a news conference on Sunday, he admitted there were "pressures" but thanked US President Joe Biden, in particular, for his support.In a news conference on Sunday, he admitted there were "pressures" but thanked US President Joe Biden, in particular, for his support.
Mr Biden's envoy, Hady Amr, has been in Israel since Friday, discussing the crisis with Israeli officials.Mr Biden's envoy, Hady Amr, has been in Israel since Friday, discussing the crisis with Israeli officials.
Since the US, like Israel and many other countries, regards Hamas as a terrorist organisation, Mr Amr will not be meeting one of the two warring parties.Since the US, like Israel and many other countries, regards Hamas as a terrorist organisation, Mr Amr will not be meeting one of the two warring parties.
Any messages for Hamas will have to go through traditional interlocutors, such as Egypt or Qatar.Any messages for Hamas will have to go through traditional interlocutors, such as Egypt or Qatar.
Local reports suggest Hamas has been offering some kind of ceasefire for several days, only to be rebuffed by Israel, which clearly wants to inflict as much damage as it can on the militants before the fighting is finally brought to a close.Local reports suggest Hamas has been offering some kind of ceasefire for several days, only to be rebuffed by Israel, which clearly wants to inflict as much damage as it can on the militants before the fighting is finally brought to a close.
These episodes follow a familiar pattern: Israel presses home its undoubted military advantage until the international outcry over civilian casualties, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, demand that the operation end.These episodes follow a familiar pattern: Israel presses home its undoubted military advantage until the international outcry over civilian casualties, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, demand that the operation end.
In Israel's estimation, we have not reached that point yet.In Israel's estimation, we have not reached that point yet.
What happened during the UN meeting? The Israeli strikes followed Palestinian rocket attacks targeting the southern Israeli cities of Beersheba and Ashkelon just after midnight on Monday.
The 15-member UN Security Council has been unable to agree on a public statement in recent days and none was forthcoming after the meeting. Ten people, including two children, have been killed in rocket attacks on Israel in the past week.
Israeli officials say they have seen the highest ever concentration of rocket attacks in that time, with more than 3,000 rockets launched in total.
The country's Iron Dome defence system is said to have intercepted 90% of the rockets. But some have caused damage to cars and buildings, including the Yad Michael synagogue in Ashkelon, where a hole was blasted through the wall just before a Sunday evening service for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.
Israel says more than 3,000 rockets have been launched by Palestinian militants over the past week
Officials in Gaza said Sunday had been the deadliest day of the flare-up so far. Israeli air strikes hit a busy street in Gaza just after midnight, causing at least three buildings to collapse.
Emergency workers spent the day trying to rescue people from under the debris. Gazan officials later said 42 people, including 16 women and 10 children, had died in the air strikes.
What is Hamas?
How Israel's Iron Dome missile shield works
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The UN has also warned of fuel shortages in Gaza which could lead to hospitals and other facilities losing power.
Rescuers in Gaza have spent much of the day searching through the debris of the strikes
Lynn Hastings, UN deputy special co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process, told the BBC that she had appealed to Israeli authorities to allow the UN to bring in fuel and supplies but was told it was not safe.
The UN Security Council has been unable to agree on a public statement in recent days and none was forthcoming after Sunday's meeting.
The United States - a strong ally of Israel - is said to be the hold-out, believing it would be unhelpful in the diplomatic process.The United States - a strong ally of Israel - is said to be the hold-out, believing it would be unhelpful in the diplomatic process.
In Sunday's meeting, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the US was ready to offer support "should the parties seek a ceasefire" and had been working tirelessly to try to bring an end to the conflict.
Palestinian Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki, spoke of Saturday's attack on a refugee camp, which killed 10 members of the same family, leaving a five-month-old survivor to be pulled from the rubble. "Israel often asks us to put ourselves in their shoes," he said, "but they are not wearing shoes. They're wearing military boots."
In response, Israel's Permanent Representative, Gilad Erdan, cited the death of a 10-year-old Arab-Israeli girl, killed by a Hamas rocket. He insisted Israel was mounting what he called "a heroic effort" to "dismantle terrorist infrastructure and avoid civilian casualties".
Mr Erdan ended by urging the Security Council to unequivocally condemn Hamas but warned that Israel would take all steps necessary to protect itself.