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| Gaza war resumes as talks break down | Gaza war resumes as talks break down |
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| The conflict in Gaza has flared up with renewed rocket fire and air strikes as talks in Cairo aimed at forging a durable ceasefire in the six-week war broke down. | The conflict in Gaza has flared up with renewed rocket fire and air strikes as talks in Cairo aimed at forging a durable ceasefire in the six-week war broke down. |
| Israel accused Hamas of violating the latest of a series of temporary ceasefires after rockets were launched from Gaza on Tuesday hours before the end of the latest truce, triggering a swift military and political response. A woman and a two-year-old girl – reported to be the wife and child of Mohammed Deif, Hamas’s military chief, whom Israel has wanted to eliminate for years – died in an air strike on a house in Gaza City on Tuesday evening. A third unidentified person was also killed and at least 15 people injured. | Israel accused Hamas of violating the latest of a series of temporary ceasefires after rockets were launched from Gaza on Tuesday hours before the end of the latest truce, triggering a swift military and political response. A woman and a two-year-old girl – reported to be the wife and child of Mohammed Deif, Hamas’s military chief, whom Israel has wanted to eliminate for years – died in an air strike on a house in Gaza City on Tuesday evening. A third unidentified person was also killed and at least 15 people injured. |
| Seven members of one family, including a woman and three children, were killed when a house in central Gaza was hit early on Wednesday. The offices of the Hamas-affiliated al-Aqsa TV were also hit in at least 60 air strikes following the breakdown of the ceasefire. Hundreds of civilians fled their homes for UN shelters. | |
| Israeli officials said 70 rockets were fired from Gaza, the first of which were launched around eight hours before the truce was due to end at midnight. Hamas denied firing the first rockets but, following the deadly attack on the Gaza City house, it said it had fired at least 40 rockets, targeting Tel Aviv and Israel’s main international airport, Ben Gurion. | |
| Iron Dome, Israel’s vaunted anti-missile defence system, was reactivated, sirens sounded in the centre and south of the country, and bomb shelters within 50 miles (80km) of the Gaza border were reopened. | Iron Dome, Israel’s vaunted anti-missile defence system, was reactivated, sirens sounded in the centre and south of the country, and bomb shelters within 50 miles (80km) of the Gaza border were reopened. |
| The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, ordered his negotiating team to leave talks in Cairo. “The Cairo talks were based on an agreed premise of a total cessation of hostilities,” said the Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev. “When Hamas breaks the ceasefire they also break the premise for the Cairo talks. Accordingly the Israeli team has been called back as a result of today’s rocket fire.” It was not clear whether the team would return. | The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, ordered his negotiating team to leave talks in Cairo. “The Cairo talks were based on an agreed premise of a total cessation of hostilities,” said the Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev. “When Hamas breaks the ceasefire they also break the premise for the Cairo talks. Accordingly the Israeli team has been called back as a result of today’s rocket fire.” It was not clear whether the team would return. |
| Palestinian negotiators also left Cairo, blaming Israel for their failure. “Israel thwarted the contacts that could have brought peace,” said chief Palestinian negotiator Azzam al-Ahmed. The Palestinians had presented a final set of demands, but Israel was “trying to impose what they want. This is impossible for us as Palestinians to accept that … the process of procrastination and stalling continues.” | Palestinian negotiators also left Cairo, blaming Israel for their failure. “Israel thwarted the contacts that could have brought peace,” said chief Palestinian negotiator Azzam al-Ahmed. The Palestinians had presented a final set of demands, but Israel was “trying to impose what they want. This is impossible for us as Palestinians to accept that … the process of procrastination and stalling continues.” |
| The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, issued a statement condemning the breakdown of the ceasefire, adding he was “gravely disappointed by the return to hostilities” and urging the sides not to allow matters to escalate. | The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, issued a statement condemning the breakdown of the ceasefire, adding he was “gravely disappointed by the return to hostilities” and urging the sides not to allow matters to escalate. |
| Gaza had been relatively quiet for the previous eight days under two successive ceasefires that allowed negotiations to proceed. A third 24-hour-long ceasefire – due to expire at midnight on Tuesday – was agreed in Cairo late on Monday night. It was unclear whether the renewed military action heralded a return to full-scale war or if the latest exchanges would be contained. | Gaza had been relatively quiet for the previous eight days under two successive ceasefires that allowed negotiations to proceed. A third 24-hour-long ceasefire – due to expire at midnight on Tuesday – was agreed in Cairo late on Monday night. It was unclear whether the renewed military action heralded a return to full-scale war or if the latest exchanges would be contained. |
| The negotiations in Cairo have struggled to secure a long-term deal to end the six-week conflict as both sides have sought a formula that would allow them to declare positive results from the war. | The negotiations in Cairo have struggled to secure a long-term deal to end the six-week conflict as both sides have sought a formula that would allow them to declare positive results from the war. |
| According to leaks, an outline agreement proposed by Egyptian mediators included the opening of crossings between Israel and Gaza, the import of construction materials under international supervision and the expansion of the permitted fishing zone to 12 miles over a period of six months. | According to leaks, an outline agreement proposed by Egyptian mediators included the opening of crossings between Israel and Gaza, the import of construction materials under international supervision and the expansion of the permitted fishing zone to 12 miles over a period of six months. |
| The Palestinian demands for an airport and seaport, and the release of prisoners, would be deferred to further talks in about a month under the plan. | The Palestinian demands for an airport and seaport, and the release of prisoners, would be deferred to further talks in about a month under the plan. |
| Israel wants the disarmament of Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza, as well as the return by Hamas of the remains of two soldiers killed in fighting. | Israel wants the disarmament of Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza, as well as the return by Hamas of the remains of two soldiers killed in fighting. |
| All Palestinian factions say the demilitarisation of Gaza is not up for negotiation. But Hamas publicly claims it is ready to share power in Gaza with the Palestinian Authority, which currently runs the West Bank. | All Palestinian factions say the demilitarisation of Gaza is not up for negotiation. But Hamas publicly claims it is ready to share power in Gaza with the Palestinian Authority, which currently runs the West Bank. |
| More than 2,000 people – including almost 550 children – have been killed in fighting since 8 July and at least 10,000 have been injured, according to the Gaza ministry of health. Around 17,000 homes have been destroyed or severely damaged, along with scores of mosques, schools and hospitals. | More than 2,000 people – including almost 550 children – have been killed in fighting since 8 July and at least 10,000 have been injured, according to the Gaza ministry of health. Around 17,000 homes have been destroyed or severely damaged, along with scores of mosques, schools and hospitals. |
| A poll published by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 92% of Jewish Israelis believed the war was justified. Forty-eight per cent of those questioned thought an appropriate amount of force had been used by the Israeli military; 45% said too little force had been deployed; and 6% thought too much had been used. | A poll published by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 92% of Jewish Israelis believed the war was justified. Forty-eight per cent of those questioned thought an appropriate amount of force had been used by the Israeli military; 45% said too little force had been deployed; and 6% thought too much had been used. |
| Israel has lost 64 soldiers in fighting, including five killed by friendly fire. Three civilians – two Israelis and a Thai agriculture worker – were killed by rockets launched from Gaza. | Israel has lost 64 soldiers in fighting, including five killed by friendly fire. Three civilians – two Israelis and a Thai agriculture worker – were killed by rockets launched from Gaza. |