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Gaza crisis: Israel air strikes hit Hamas HQ Gaza crisis: Israel air strikes hit Hamas HQ
(35 minutes later)
Israeli air strikes have targeted the headquarters of Gaza's Hamas leaders, as the bombardment of the coastal enclave moved into a fourth day.Israeli air strikes have targeted the headquarters of Gaza's Hamas leaders, as the bombardment of the coastal enclave moved into a fourth day.
Witnesses reported extensive damage to the building, which Egypt's PM Hisham Qandil had visited on Friday.Witnesses reported extensive damage to the building, which Egypt's PM Hisham Qandil had visited on Friday.
At least 34 Palestinians and three Israelis have died since Israel killed Hamas's military chief on Wednesday.At least 34 Palestinians and three Israelis have died since Israel killed Hamas's military chief on Wednesday.
Israel earlier put 75,000 reservists on stand-by amid speculation of a ground invasion.Israel earlier put 75,000 reservists on stand-by amid speculation of a ground invasion.
Militants in Gaza have continued to fire rockets into Israel, aiming at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Friday.Militants in Gaza have continued to fire rockets into Israel, aiming at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Friday.
Drones over GazaDrones over Gaza
After a lull overnight - with correspondents reporting that the area was quiet but for the almost-constant buzz of drones overhead - Gaza City was hit by a string of large explosions shortly after 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Saturday.After a lull overnight - with correspondents reporting that the area was quiet but for the almost-constant buzz of drones overhead - Gaza City was hit by a string of large explosions shortly after 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Saturday.
There was another series of strikes in and around the city shortly after 05:00 local time, with several targeting Hamas' cabinet buildings, which correspondents say were likely to have been empty.There was another series of strikes in and around the city shortly after 05:00 local time, with several targeting Hamas' cabinet buildings, which correspondents say were likely to have been empty.
The BBC's Jon Donnison tweeted: "Five big air strikes now shaking my room. Feels close."The BBC's Jon Donnison tweeted: "Five big air strikes now shaking my room. Feels close."
Our correspondent cited Gaza sources as saying bodies were trapped under rubble at a house hit in Jabalia, north of Gaza City. Casualty figures remain unclear.Our correspondent cited Gaza sources as saying bodies were trapped under rubble at a house hit in Jabalia, north of Gaza City. Casualty figures remain unclear.
Three members of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, are said to have been among those killed overnight.Three members of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, are said to have been among those killed overnight.
As well as Hamas buildings, Israeli aircraft targeted electricity transformers and the network of tunnels used to smuggle goods and weapons from Egypt into Gaza, reports said.As well as Hamas buildings, Israeli aircraft targeted electricity transformers and the network of tunnels used to smuggle goods and weapons from Egypt into Gaza, reports said.
Israeli military spokeswoman Avital Leibovich said a total of 200 targets had been hit overnight, including 120 rocket launchers and 20 smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza.Israeli military spokeswoman Avital Leibovich said a total of 200 targets had been hit overnight, including 120 rocket launchers and 20 smuggling tunnels in southern Gaza.
Rumours have been swirling that a ground attack is imminent, but Israeli officials say no decision has been made.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. 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 Israeli strikes in recent days, Hamas says.
The group's military leader Ahmed Jabari was killed on Wednesday. A senior commander was killed on Friday, officials said.
Two Israeli women and a man died when a rocket hit a building in the southern town of Kiryat Malachi on Thursday, officials said.
Mursi praised
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."
Militants and civilians, including at least seven children, have been among the Palestinians killed during Israeli strikes in recent days, Hamas says.
The group's military leader Ahmed Jabari was killed on Wednesday. A senior commander was killed on Friday, officials said.
Two Israeli women and a man died when a rocket hit a building in the southern town of Kiryat Malachi on Thursday, officials said.
Mursi praised
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.
On Friday, Hamas said it fired rockets at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem: Haaretz newspaper said it was the first time since 1970 that a rocket had been fired at Jerusalem.On Friday, Hamas said it fired rockets at Tel Aviv and Jerusalem: Haaretz newspaper said it was the first time since 1970 that a rocket had been fired at Jerusalem.
Israel's army says the operation - codenamed Pillar of Defence - has hit more than 800 sites in Gaza, including underground rocket launchers & infrastructure.Israel's army says the operation - codenamed Pillar of Defence - has hit more than 800 sites in Gaza, including underground rocket launchers & infrastructure.
It says hundreds of rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza since Wednesday, a quarter of which had been intercepted by its radar defence system - Iron Dome. It says hundreds of rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza since Wednesday, a quarter of which had been intercepted by its radar defence system, Iron Dome.
Warning sirens were heard in parts of southern Israel early on Saturday, but there were no reports of casualties from Palestinian rocket attacks. The army said about 10 rockets were fired from Gaza early on Saturday. There were no reports of casualties from those attacks.
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.
Called by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, US President Barack Obama reiterated his country's support for Israel's "right to defend itself". Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has accused Israel of carrying out "massacres".
Mr Obama also spoke to Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi, praising his efforts to pacify the situation in Gaza, a spokesman said. Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem has arrived in Gaza through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt to show support for Hamas.
Mr Mursi has called the Israeli raids "a blatant aggression against humanity" and promised that Egypt "will not leave Gaza on its own". Western leaders and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have appealed for both sides to stop the violence.
In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, President Barack Obama reiterated US support for Israel's "right to defend itself".
Mr Obama also spoke to Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi. Mr 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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