http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7801788.stm
Israel renews air strikes on Gaza
Israeli jets have launched a second day of air attacks on the Gaza Strip, amid warnings that operations will continue until Hamas ends rocket fire from Gaza.
Palestinian officials raised the number killed on Saturday to 271, while Israel said it targeted 30 sites overnight.
At the UN, the Security Council called for an end to all violence in Gaza, including rocket attacks from Gaza.
Israel says at least 110 rockets have been fired over the weekend, and warned it may send troops into Gaza.
Thousands of reserve soldiers have been called up for duty, reports say.
Air strikes were launched on Saturday against Hamas targets in the densely-populated coastal territory, less than a week after the expiry of a six-month-long ceasefire deal with the militant group.
The high numbers of casualties made Saturday the single deadliest day in the Gaza Strip since Israel's occupation of the territory in 1967, analysts said.
Most of those killed were policemen in the Hamas militant movement, which controls Gaza, but women and children also died, Gaza officials said.
About 700 others were wounded as missiles struck security compounds and militant bases, the officials added.
In Israel, one person was killed, in the town of Netivot, some 20km (12 miles) east of Gaza, while there were reports of several Qassam rocket strikes early on Sunday.
Rockets landed in Ashdod, Israel's largest southern city - some 38km (23 miles) from Gaza - the deepest they have ever struck inside Israel, Israeli media said. No injuries were reported.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has said military operations could widen to include a ground operation if air strikes fail to change Hamas's behaviour.
Military fighter jets have already targeted 210 sites since the operation began on Saturday, Israeli security sources said.
'Protecting citizens'
Gazans are preparing to hold funerals for those killed on Saturday, while a general strike has been called for the Palestinian territories.
At the UN, the Security Council ended emergency talks with a call for an end to hostilities, speaking of "serious concern" at the escalation of the situation in Gaza.
Israel's UN ambassador, Gabriela Shalev, repeated Israel's stance that it was taking action to "protect its citizens from further terrorist attacks".
US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad suggested Hamas held the key to restoring calm.
"We believe the way forward from here is for rocket attacks against Israel to stop, for all violence to end," he said.
He was implicitly backed up from Cairo by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas - whose Fatah faction are bitter rivals of Hamas.
"We could have avoided what happened," Mr Abbas said, saying the Islamist group should have renewed the ceasefire before it lapsed.
As air raids continued, Palestinian medical officials said two people were killed when a mosque was struck late on Saturday night in Gaza City. A Hamas-run TV station was also targeted, reports said.
After daybreak, a BBC journalist in Gaza City said a Hamas-run security and prison compound was also struck by at least three missiles on Sunday morning.
In Saturday's main incidents:
• Israel hit targets in all Gaza's main towns, including Gaza City in the north and Khan Younis and Rafah in the south
• Hamas said all its security compounds in the strip were destroyed; the head of Gaza's police was among those killed
• Medical officials said most of those killed were Hamas policemen, but civilians were among the dead
• Staff at Gaza City's main hospital, Shifa, said it was struggling to cope with the influx of injuries.
'Time for fighting'
The raids came days after a six month truce with Hamas expired and as Israel prepared for a general election in February.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has explained the operation in stark terms, saying "the time has come to fight".
In response the exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, called for a new intifada, or uprising, against Israel, while the movement's Gaza leader, Ismail Haniya, called the attack an "ugly massacre".
International reaction to the bombing has been dominated by calls for restraint.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Middle East envoy Tony Blair and the French EU presidency all called for a ceasefire.
Although a six month truce between Hamas and Israel was agreed earlier this year, it was regularly under strain and was allowed to lapse when it expired this month.
Hamas blamed Israel for the end of the ceasefire, saying it had not respected its terms, including the lifting of the blockade under which little more than humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza.
Israel said it initially began easing the blockade, but this was halted when Hamas failed to fulfil what Israel says were agreed conditions, including ending all rocket fire and halting weapons smuggling.
From 1967 Israel's military occupied the Gaza Strip and Jewish settlers built communities within the territory. Israel withdrew in 2005 but has maintained control of Gaza's borders.
Story from BBC NEWS:
Israel renews air strikes on Gaza
Israeli jets have launched a second day of air attacks on the Gaza Strip, amid warnings that operations will continue until Hamas ends rocket fire from Gaza.
Palestinian officials raised the number killed on Saturday to 271, while Israel said it targeted 30 sites overnight.
At the UN, the Security Council called for an end to all violence in Gaza, including rocket attacks from Gaza.
Israel says at least 110 rockets have been fired over the weekend, and warned it may send troops into Gaza.
Thousands of reserve soldiers have been called up for duty, reports say.
Air strikes were launched on Saturday against Hamas targets in the densely-populated coastal territory, less than a week after the expiry of a six-month-long ceasefire deal with the militant group.
The high numbers of casualties made Saturday the single deadliest day in the Gaza Strip since Israel's occupation of the territory in 1967, analysts said.
Most of those killed were policemen in the Hamas militant movement, which controls Gaza, but women and children also died, Gaza officials said.
About 700 others were wounded as missiles struck security compounds and militant bases, the officials added.
In Israel, one person was killed, in the town of Netivot, some 20km (12 miles) east of Gaza, while there were reports of several Qassam rocket strikes early on Sunday.
Rockets landed in Ashdod, Israel's largest southern city - some 38km (23 miles) from Gaza - the deepest they have ever struck inside Israel, Israeli media said. No injuries were reported.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has said military operations could widen to include a ground operation if air strikes fail to change Hamas's behaviour.
Military fighter jets have already targeted 210 sites since the operation began on Saturday, Israeli security sources said.
'Protecting citizens'
Gazans are preparing to hold funerals for those killed on Saturday, while a general strike has been called for the Palestinian territories.
At the UN, the Security Council ended emergency talks with a call for an end to hostilities, speaking of "serious concern" at the escalation of the situation in Gaza.
Israel's UN ambassador, Gabriela Shalev, repeated Israel's stance that it was taking action to "protect its citizens from further terrorist attacks".
US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad suggested Hamas held the key to restoring calm.
"We believe the way forward from here is for rocket attacks against Israel to stop, for all violence to end," he said.
He was implicitly backed up from Cairo by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas - whose Fatah faction are bitter rivals of Hamas.
"We could have avoided what happened," Mr Abbas said, saying the Islamist group should have renewed the ceasefire before it lapsed.
As air raids continued, Palestinian medical officials said two people were killed when a mosque was struck late on Saturday night in Gaza City. A Hamas-run TV station was also targeted, reports said.
After daybreak, a BBC journalist in Gaza City said a Hamas-run security and prison compound was also struck by at least three missiles on Sunday morning.
In Saturday's main incidents:
• Israel hit targets in all Gaza's main towns, including Gaza City in the north and Khan Younis and Rafah in the south
• Hamas said all its security compounds in the strip were destroyed; the head of Gaza's police was among those killed
• Medical officials said most of those killed were Hamas policemen, but civilians were among the dead
• Staff at Gaza City's main hospital, Shifa, said it was struggling to cope with the influx of injuries.
'Time for fighting'
The raids came days after a six month truce with Hamas expired and as Israel prepared for a general election in February.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has explained the operation in stark terms, saying "the time has come to fight".
In response the exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, called for a new intifada, or uprising, against Israel, while the movement's Gaza leader, Ismail Haniya, called the attack an "ugly massacre".
International reaction to the bombing has been dominated by calls for restraint.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Middle East envoy Tony Blair and the French EU presidency all called for a ceasefire.
Although a six month truce between Hamas and Israel was agreed earlier this year, it was regularly under strain and was allowed to lapse when it expired this month.
Hamas blamed Israel for the end of the ceasefire, saying it had not respected its terms, including the lifting of the blockade under which little more than humanitarian aid has been allowed into Gaza.
Israel said it initially began easing the blockade, but this was halted when Hamas failed to fulfil what Israel says were agreed conditions, including ending all rocket fire and halting weapons smuggling.
From 1967 Israel's military occupied the Gaza Strip and Jewish settlers built communities within the territory. Israel withdrew in 2005 but has maintained control of Gaza's borders.
Story from BBC NEWS:
