Here's a summary of the latest developments in GAZA
- At least four people were killed when the al-Asqa martyrs hospital was shelled in central Gaza, without warning according to officials. It is the fourth hospital to be hit since Israel launched an offensive, almost two weeks ago, aimed at preventing rocket attacks. Gaza's health ministry appealed to the UN and other agencies to urge Israel to stop targeting medical facilities.
- Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has signalled that the offensive against Gaza will intensify still further. "The operation will be expanded until the goal is achieved," he said after a meeting of his security cabinet.
- The UN Security Council has expressed concern at the escalation of violence in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire. "The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern about the growing number of casualties. The members of the Security Council called for an immediate cessation of hostilities," Rwandan UN Ambassador Eugene Gasana told reporters after an emergency meeting of the 15-member council. The UN's human rights council is due to discuss the crisis on Wednesday after a request from Egypt.
- US Secretary of State John Kerry has criticised indiscriminate Israeli attacks in an unguarded moment between TV interviews, before heading to Cairo for talks aimed at securing a ceasefire. He sarcastically questioned Israeli claims about the accuracy of the offensive, by saying "It's a hell of a pinpoint operation. It's a hell of a pinpoint operation."
- A new salvo of rockets was launched at Israel from Gaza. At least six were intercepted, while one damaged property in Sderot.
- The number of Palestinians killed in the offensive has increased to more than 500 with a further 3,150 injured. Israel said it killed 10 militants after they crossed the border in tunnels.
- Israel has been sending out conflicting messages about claims that Hamas militants have captured one of its soldiers. Isreal's ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosser, said: “There is no kidnapped Israeli soldier and those rumors are untrue." But a military spokesman said he could not confirm or deny the report while it was being investigated.
- The US State Department has confirmed that two American citizens were among the soldiers killed fighting for Israel over the weekend. It named them as Max Steinberg of California and Nissim Carmeli of Texas.
- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Qatar in talks aimed at bringing an end to the violence. Abbas is due to meet Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal later on Monday.
- Israel killed dozens of Palestinians in a Gaza City suburb in the deadliest attack in an almost two-week offensive against Hamas.At least 67 people – some fighters but many civilians – were killed in a night of intense violence in Shujai'iya that has been described by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, as a massacre. Hundreds more were injured.
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