Special report:
Palestine-Israel Conflicts
CAIRO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Visiting UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak
Wednesday on the ongoing Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip which has
killed more than 950 Palestinians.
The two sides reviewed the latest developments of the
Gaza crisis and are expected to discuss an Egyptian initiative aiming at putting
an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups
in Gaza.
Ban, who arrived here earlier on Wednesday morning
for a week-long Middle East mediation tour, is also scheduled to visit Jordan,
Israel, the Palestinian territories, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Kuwait to
strengthen the joint diplomatic efforts to strive for an early end to the Gaza
fighting.
Ban's Middle East tour came as part of the UN efforts
to push for the implementation of a UN Security Council resolution on Gaza.
On Thursday, the UN Security Council adopted
resolution 1860, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza "leading to the full
withdrawal of Israeli forces."
Meanwhile, Mubarak on Jan. 6 presented a three-point
proposal, which calls for an immediate ceasefire for a limited period to allow
humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and give Egypt time to continue its efforts to
help reach a lasting truce.
Egypt would invite both Israel and the Palestinians
for negotiation and help resume the inter-Palestinian reconciliation talks,
according to the proposal.
During his stay in Egypt, Ban is also expected to have talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and senior officials of the Cairo-based Arab League on the Gaza situation.
UN chief, Egyptian president meet on Gaza crisis
CAIRO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where about 977 Palestinians have been killed in the past 19 days of Israeli offensive against the Palestinian enclave.
"I repeat my call for an immediate and durable ceasefire (in Gaza)," Ban said at a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit following talks with President Hosni Mubarak. Full story
Witnesses: Israeli army destroys main Gaza cemetery
GAZA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Israeli army F-16 warplanes Wednesday destroyed the main Gaza cemetery in northern Gaza City's Sheik Radwan neighborhood, local residents said.
"The Israeli warplanes are not only targeting people alive, but they also destroy the graves of the dead," said Na'eem Abu Sh'aban,a resident of the neighborhood living near the cemetery. Full story
Israel fires back 9 rockets, while helicopters flew low over S Lebanon
BEIRUT, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Israel responded firing back nine rockets into southern Lebanon areas of Arkoub and Habarieh in Hassbia region, while Israeli helicopters flew in low altitude over the area, al-Jazeera TV reported Wednesday.
Two Katyusha rockets were launched Wednesday morning from southern Lebanon into Israeli town of Kiryat Shmouna, prompting an Israeli response of firing back the nine rockets. Full story
Israel intensifies military offensive in populated areas of Gaza
GAZA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army intensified on Tuesday its air and ground military offensive on the Gaza Strip for 18th successive day, where its ground forces carried out short and quick incursions into populated areas.
Palestinian witnesses and local radio stations said that the Israeli army on Tuesday had intensified its ground, air and sea strikes on houses and empty areas around Gaza city and in northern Gaza Strip. Full story
Report: Egypt-Hamas talks realize "positive outcome"
CAIRO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The talks between Egyptian mediators and representatives of Hamas on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip have reached "positive outcome," the Egyptian MENA news agency reported on Sunday.
The two sides have agreed that the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian enclave should be stopped as soon as possible, MENA quoted an Egyptian official source as saying on condition of anonymity. Full story
Israeli army begins sending reservists into Gaza
JERUSALEM, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday has begun sending its reservists into the Gaza Strip, signaling an expansion of the IDF ground incursion in the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave.
An IDF spokesman told Xinhua some reservists have already entered Gaza and others will go afterwards. He declined to say how many reservists will go into the Strip. Full story
Exiled Hamas leader says to consider truce after Israel stops offensive
DAMASCUS, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Exiled Hamas politburo leader Khaled Meshaal said on Saturday his group would consider a truce after Israel stopped its offensive against the Gaza Strip and lift blockade on the territory.
Meshaal made the remarks in a televised statement in Damascus, demanding Israel to end its aggression, pull out its troops, open the crossing points first. Full story
Bush: cessation of Hamas rocket firing, arms smuggling key to Gaza cease-fire
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush has said that a lasting cease-fire in the Gaza Strip requires Palestinian militants to first stop rocket firing and arms smuggling, the White House said on Saturday.
"President Bush emphasized the importance of bringing an end to rocket-fire against Israel and preventing arms smuggling into Gazaas the basis for a durable cease-fire," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe in a statement.Full story
Abbas says Israel must accept Egyptian plan on Gaza truce
CAIRO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday Israel must accept an Egyptian plan to put an end to the conflict in the Palestinian territory of Gaza Strip.
Abbas made his call at a press conference following talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday morning, saying Israel must accept the Egyptian proposal or "face the responsibility over the conflict." Full story
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