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Gaza conflict: Israel vows to intensify offensive Gaza City hit by fresh Israeli air strikes after lull
(about 1 hour later)
Israel has put up to 75,000 reservists on stand-by and vowed to intensify its continuing raids on the Gaza Strip after Jerusalem was targeted by a rocket for the first time in decades. Israel has carried out more air strikes on the Gaza Strip, having put 75,000 army reservists on stand-by amid speculation of a ground invasion.
Twenty-eight Palestinians and three Israelis have died since Israel killed Hamas's military chief on Wednesday. After a lull overnight, Gaza City was hit by a series of large explosions just before dawn on Saturday.
There were further Israeli air strikes on Gaza City early on Saturday. Militants in Gaza have continued to fire rockets into Israel, aiming at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Friday.
Telephoned by PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Barack Obama repeated the US's support for Israel's "right to defend itself". At least 29 Palestinians and three Israelis have died since Israel killed Hamas's military chief on Wednesday.
A White House spokesman said Mr Obama had "expressed regret over the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives". In a telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Barack Obama repeated his country's support for Israel's "right to defend itself".
A White House spokesman said the two men also discussed options for "de-escalating the situation".
The two men also discussed options for "de-escalating the situation", he added. Mr Obama also spoke to Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi on Friday, praising his efforts to pacify the situation in Gaza, added the spokesman.
Mr Obama also spoke to Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi on Friday, praising his efforts to pacify the situation in Gaza, said the spokesman. Drones over Gaza
No calm in Gaza
Hamas's military leader Ahmed Jabari was killed by an Israeli air strike on Wednesday. A senior commander was killed on Friday, Hamas officials said.
Militants and civilians, including at least seven children, have been among the Palestinians killed during the two-day Israeli bombardment, Hamas says.
On Friday, Israeli army spokesman Yoav Mordechai said: "Tonight won't be calm in Gaza."On Friday, Israeli army spokesman Yoav Mordechai said: "Tonight won't be calm in Gaza."
Shortly after 03:30 (01:30GMT) the href="https://twitter.com/pdanahar" >BBC's Paul Danahar tweeted: "Series of Israeli air strikes very close to our hotel in Gaza; had been quiet night until then." Overnight, the area had been quiet but for the almost-constant buzz of drones overhead until, shortly after 03:30 (01:30GMT), the intensity of the air strikes increased.
There was another series of strikes in and around Gaza City shortly after 05:00, with several reportedly targeting Hamas' main government buildings.
The BBC's Jon Donnison tweeted: "Five big air strikes now shaking my room. Feels close."
Israel's military tweeted that it had targeted 85 sites in the past six hours, roughly half the number hit during the equivalent period a day earlier.
Rumours have been swirling that a ground attack is imminent, but Israeli officials say no decision has been made.
Israel blocked access to three major routes leading into Gaza on Friday; call-up papers have already been sent to 16,000 Israeli reservists, with officials authorising the mobilisation of another 75,000.
Militants and civilians, including at least seven children, have been among the Palestinians killed during the two-day Israeli bombardment, Hamas says.
Hamas's military leader Ahmed Jabari was killed by an Israeli air strike on Wednesday. A senior commander was killed on Friday, officials said.
Tel Aviv targeted
Before the recent offensive, Israel had repeatedly carried out air strikes on Gaza, as Palestinian militants fired rockets across the border.Before the recent offensive, Israel had repeatedly carried out air strikes on Gaza, as Palestinian militants fired rockets across the border.
Two Israeli women and a man died when a rocket from Gaza hit a building in the southern town of Kiryat Malachi on Thursday, Israeli officials said. Two Israeli women and a man died when a rocket hit a building in the southern town of Kiryat Malachi on Thursday, Israeli officials said.
On Friday, a rocket landed in Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem. Haaretz newspaper said it was the first time since 1970 that a rocket had been fired at Jerusalem.On Friday, a rocket landed in Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem. Haaretz newspaper said it was the first time since 1970 that a rocket had been fired at Jerusalem.
It is not clear whether the rocket was the same Iranian-built Fajr-5 launched towards Tel Aviv for the second day on Friday.It is not clear whether the rocket was the same Iranian-built Fajr-5 launched towards Tel Aviv for the second day on Friday.
The Fajr-5 rockets have an estimated range of 75km (45 miles). The Fajr-5 has an estimated range of 75km (45 miles).
The Tel Aviv attack was the first time the city has come under attack since the 1991 Gulf War.
The missile appears to have done no harm, with police officials quoted variously as saying it had landed in the sea or in an unpopulated area.
Analysts say it is the first time Gaza militants have deployed such powerful missiles.Analysts say it is the first time Gaza militants have deployed such powerful missiles.
Israel says its assault on Gaza is aimed at knocking out rocket-firing facilities. A spokesman said on Friday it had destroyed Hamas's "nascent" unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) programme. Israel says its assault on Gaza is aimed at knocking out rocket-firing facilities.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said that during the operation - codenamed Pillar of Defense - it had targeted "600 terror sites in Gaza, including underground rocket launchers & infrastructure". A spokesman said on Friday it had destroyed Hamas's "nascent" unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) programme.
It said 97 rockets fired from Gaza had hit Israel on Friday alone - 388 since Wednesday. Its radar defence system - Iron Dome - had intercepted 99 rockets.
Known for its wealthy high tech industry, its chic cafes and bars, Tel Aviv is viewed by much of the rest of Israel as a bit of a hedonistic bubble, but that bubble burst over the last couple of days when rockets from Gaza reached Tel Aviv for the first time.Known for its wealthy high tech industry, its chic cafes and bars, Tel Aviv is viewed by much of the rest of Israel as a bit of a hedonistic bubble, but that bubble burst over the last couple of days when rockets from Gaza reached Tel Aviv for the first time.
Israel's powerful air force says it has been pounding Gaza's weapons depots and launch sites so the fact Gaza militants are still able to fire medium range missiles that reach as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem worries Israelis.Israel's powerful air force says it has been pounding Gaza's weapons depots and launch sites so the fact Gaza militants are still able to fire medium range missiles that reach as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem worries Israelis.
In Tel Aviv itself, most people seem to be simultaneously surprised, a little scared and overwhelmingly stoic.In Tel Aviv itself, most people seem to be simultaneously surprised, a little scared and overwhelmingly stoic.
Miriam, a barista in Tel Aviv's fashionable Shenkin Street said: "I expect rockets to fall in Israeli towns close to Gaza but not here in Tel Aviv. It's scary but I'm hopeful that in the end things will get better. I have to be hopeful. I have no choice."Miriam, a barista in Tel Aviv's fashionable Shenkin Street said: "I expect rockets to fall in Israeli towns close to Gaza but not here in Tel Aviv. It's scary but I'm hopeful that in the end things will get better. I have to be hopeful. I have no choice."
On Friday evening Israel blocked access to three major routes leading into Gaza. Israel's army said on Friday that during the operation - codenamed Pillar of Defense - it had targeted "600 terror sites in Gaza, including underground rocket launchers & infrastructure".
Rumours have been swirling that a ground attack is imminent, but Israeli officials have said no decision has yet been made. It said 97 rockets fired from Gaza had hit Israel on Friday alone - 388 since Wednesday. Its radar defence system - Iron Dome - had intercepted 99 rockets.
Call-up papers have already been sent to 16,000 Israeli reservists, and officials have authorised the mobilisation of another 75,000. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has accused Israel of carrying out "massacres".
The Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has accused Israel of carrying out "massacres". Western leaders and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have appealed for both sides to stop the escalation in violence.
Western leaders have appealed for both sides to stop the escalation in violence. Britain and Germany have both said Hamas bears the brunt of the blame and should stop firing rockets immediately.
Britain and Germany both said Hamas bears the brunt of the blame and should stop firing rockets immediately.
But Egypt's President Mursi has called the Israeli raids "a blatant aggression against humanity" and promised that Egypt "will not leave Gaza on its own".But Egypt's President Mursi has called the Israeli raids "a blatant aggression against humanity" and promised that Egypt "will not leave Gaza on its own".
Ties between Hamas and Egypt have strengthened since Mr Mursi's election earlier this year.Ties between Hamas and Egypt have strengthened since Mr Mursi's election earlier this year.
Hamas was formed as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Mr Mursi belongs.Hamas was formed as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, to which Mr Mursi belongs.
CLICKABLE CLICKABLE
AshdodAshdod
Kiryat MalachiKiryat Malachi
Beit HanounBeit Hanoun
Gaza CityGaza City

Ashdod, Israel

An Israeli woman looks out from her apartment in a building damaged by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in the southern city of Ashdod.

Kiryat Malachi, Israel

An Israeli man looks out from an apartment building in Kiryat Malachi, Israel which officials say was hit by a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip.

Beit Hanoun, Gaza

A Palestinian woman inspects the damage to a house, left, and a mosque, right, after an Israeli airstrike in Beit Hanoun, north Gaza.

Gaza City

Palestinians survey the damage done to Gaza's ministry of interior building following an Israeli air strike.

Ashdod, Israel

An Israeli woman looks out from her apartment in a building damaged by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in the southern city of Ashdod.

Kiryat Malachi, Israel

An Israeli man looks out from an apartment building in Kiryat Malachi, Israel which officials say was hit by a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip.

Beit Hanoun, Gaza

A Palestinian woman inspects the damage to a house, left, and a mosque, right, after an Israeli airstrike in Beit Hanoun, north Gaza.

Gaza City

Palestinians survey the damage done to Gaza's ministry of interior building following an Israeli air strike.
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