Theres been International Condemnation of the taking of civilian hostages. Israel says some 100 civilians and soldiers have been kidnapped, but both israel and hamas have denied reports of a possible prisoner exchange. So far in this conflict, at least 900 people have been killed in israel, and almost 700 people have been killed in gaza following Israeli Military action. Right now were looking at a live pictures of gaza city, where weve seen many flashes of explosions in the past hour or so. Israels allies, including the us, germany, italy, france and the uk have released a joint statement criticising the weekends surprise strikes by hamas, saying lets get the latest from the ground now. 0ur international editor, jeremy bowen, is in the southern israeli city of ashkelon, just 13km or about eight miles north of the gaza strip, and has this report. Inside gaza, it looks every bit as if palestinians are feeling the full force of Israeli Military power. Israel says hamas is responsible for
Days of intense violence. Inside gaza, it looks every bit as if palestinians are feeling the full force of Israeli Military power. Israel says hamas is responsible for the suffering of gazas civilians. And its retaliation for the hamas attack is only just begun. Hamas has threatened to start killing its israeli hostages. The air strikes rolled on, hour after hour. Palestinian armed groups, undeterred, kept up their own barrage of israel. 0ur bbc team was in ashkelon in southern israel, not far from the gaza border when a salvo came in. Ashkelon is so close to gaza that there is no more than a ten second warning. Israel is moving in more fire power. The next stage of the offensive against hamas looks certain to be a Ground Offensive, much bigger than other incursions since hamas took over in gaza in 2007. Lines of cars outside a Military Base on the road to gaza were parked by reservists as they reported for duty, getting ready, saying their goodbyes. Parents came to the base for a few
Civilians are not warned about impending air strikes. Theres been International Condemnation of the taking of civilian hostages. Israel says some 100 civilians and soldiers have been kidnapped. But both israel and hamas have denied reports of a possible prisoner exchange. So far in this conflict, at least 900 people have been killed in israel, and almost 700 people have been killed in gaza following Israeli Military action. Right now lets look at some pictures of gaza city. You can see it is rather dark. That is where a barrage of rocket fire has been exchanged in the past hours. Meanwhile, israels army is calling up 300,000 reservists and moving tanks close to the gaza strip in preparation for a land incursion. In a televised address on monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on israels Opposition Parties to form a National Unity government and said quote air strikes in gaza are only the beginning. Translation hamas have made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a
Fighting on israeli soil after Retaking Areas which hamas gunmen had been holding. It has now been ordered to begin a complete siege of gaza, which would cut off supplies of food, fuel, electricity, and also water. Hamas continues to launch missiles from inside gaza at israeli towns. Its Military Wing has threatened to start killing hostages, of which there are thought to be more than 100, if israel bombs more civilian houses in gaza without giving a warning. The numbers killed on both sides continue to rise. About 900 people have died in israel since the Surprise Attack was launched on saturday. Palestinian sources say that almost 700 people have been killed in gaza by israeli air strikes. Israel air strikes have continued through the night in gaza. Israel says it has struck around 2,500 sites linked to hamas. This is the scene live in gaza on tuesday morning. As you can see, smoke rising and gaza is waking up after another night of pummelling. 0ur international editor, jeremy bowen,
Begun bombarding gaza, cutting off electricity and water, and building up troops along the border. More than 500 palestinians have been killed in almost two and a half thousand strikes. Our International Editor jeremy bowen, has been following the days of intense violence. Inside gaza it looks every bit as if palestinians are feeling the full force of Israeli Military power. Israel says hamas is responsible for the suffering of gazas civilians. And its retaliation for the hamas attack is only just begun. Hamas has threatened to start killing its israeli hostages. The air strikes rolled on, hour after hour. Palestinian armed groups undeterred, kept up their own barrage of israel. Our bbc team was in ashkelon in southern israel not far from the gaza border when a salvo came in. Ashkelon is so close to guard so that there is no more than a ten second warning. Israel is moving in more fire power. The next stage of the offensive against hamas looks certain to be a Ground Offensive, much big