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| Gaza conflict: Obama warns Israel amid rising death toll | Gaza conflict: Obama warns Israel amid rising death toll |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has backed Israeli's right to self-defence, but warned against escalation in Gaza. | US President Barack Obama has backed Israeli's right to self-defence, but warned against escalation in Gaza. |
| Speaking to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, he underlined his support for Israel's right to defend itself against Palestinian militants. | Speaking to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, he underlined his support for Israel's right to defend itself against Palestinian militants. |
| But he said he was "deeply concerned" about civilian losses, with the Palestinian death toll now over 300. | But he said he was "deeply concerned" about civilian losses, with the Palestinian death toll now over 300. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will arrive in the region on Saturday to try to mediate between Israel and Hamas. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will arrive in the region on Saturday to try to mediate between Israel and Hamas. |
| Mr Ban's visit would aim to help Israelis and Palestinians "end the violence and find a way forward", UN political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman said. | Mr Ban's visit would aim to help Israelis and Palestinians "end the violence and find a way forward", UN political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman said. |
| "Israel has legitimate security concerns, and we condemn the indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. But we are alarmed by Israel's heavy response," Mr Feltman added. | "Israel has legitimate security concerns, and we condemn the indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. But we are alarmed by Israel's heavy response," Mr Feltman added. |
| Mr Netanyahu has warned of a "significant expansion" of the offensive but Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls Gaza, said Israel would "pay a high price" for the invasion. | Mr Netanyahu has warned of a "significant expansion" of the offensive but Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls Gaza, said Israel would "pay a high price" for the invasion. |
| Israel's ground operation followed 10 days of air strikes on Gaza, which failed to stop Hamas firing rockets across the border. | |
| Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked Turkey and Qatar to urge Hamas to accept the terms of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel. | Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has asked Turkey and Qatar to urge Hamas to accept the terms of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel. |
| At least 60 Palestinians are thought to have been killed since Israel launched the ground offensive in Gaza on Thursday. | At least 60 Palestinians are thought to have been killed since Israel launched the ground offensive in Gaza on Thursday. |
| More than 300 Palestinians - three-quarters of them civilians - have been killed since the start of the wider Israeli operation on 8 July, according to officials in Gaza. | More than 300 Palestinians - three-quarters of them civilians - have been killed since the start of the wider Israeli operation on 8 July, according to officials in Gaza. |
| One Israeli soldier and one Israeli civilian have been killed in the clashes and several Israelis have been seriously injured. | One Israeli soldier and one Israeli civilian have been killed in the clashes and several Israelis have been seriously injured. |
| Mr Netanyahu insisted that the ground operation was necessary to target a Hamas tunnel network, which the Israel military could not do "only from the air". | Mr Netanyahu insisted that the ground operation was necessary to target a Hamas tunnel network, which the Israel military could not do "only from the air". |
| President Obama said "no nation should accept rockets being fired into its borders" but called on Israel's military to conduct its operation "in a way that minimises civilian casualties." | President Obama said "no nation should accept rockets being fired into its borders" but called on Israel's military to conduct its operation "in a way that minimises civilian casualties." |
| "The US and our friends and allies are deeply concerned about the risks of further escalation and the loss of more innocent life," he told reporters at the White House. | "The US and our friends and allies are deeply concerned about the risks of further escalation and the loss of more innocent life," he told reporters at the White House. |
| UN officials say more than 50,000 Palestinians have sought shelter from Israel's ground offensive. | |
| After a relative lull in clashes on Friday, there were reports of increased Israeli tank fire overnight and further air strikes early on Saturday morning. | |
| Are you in Gaza? Are you or is someone you know affected by the situation? Email your comments to haveyouray@bbc.co.uk using the subject 'Gaza'. | Are you in Gaza? Are you or is someone you know affected by the situation? Email your comments to haveyouray@bbc.co.uk using the subject 'Gaza'. |