efq
14-01-2009, 01:19 PM
Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden has called for Jihad to end the Israeli offensive in Gaza as the conflict threatens to widen in the region.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2008/May/Week4/15004516.jpg The audiotaped message from bin Laden was posted on Islamic militant websites
In the audiotape posted on Islamic militant websites, bin Laden also condemns Arab governments for preventing their people from acting to "liberate Palestine".
Israeli warplanes have continued to pound targets in Gaza as rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel.
Police said the rockets landed in open areas and there were no reports of damage or injuries.
It is the second time rockets have been fired from Lebanon since heavy fighting between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza began.
Lebanese officials said the Israeli army fired shells into southern Lebanon in retaliation.
The Lebanese army have reportedly found three booby-trapped rockets in the Habariyeh area, close to where the other rockets were launched at Israel, said a security official.
The Israeli military continued airstrikes and ground assaults overnight throughout Gaza (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Gaza), claiming to have hit 60 targets, including a police headquarters and 30 more tunnels.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Ban%20Ki-moon) has repeated his call for an "immediate and durable ceasefire" between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking at a news conference in the Middle East, he said: "Hamas rocket attacks must stop and at the same time I have been condemning the excessive military operation by the Israelis."
He is due to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo to encourage a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Jan/Week2/15202978.jpg UN chief Ban Ki-Moon
Ban will later head to Jordan, Israel (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Israel), the Palestinian-controlled West Bank, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Kuwait, where he said an Arab League economic summit is likely to hold an extra session on the Gaza crisis.
His itinerary does not include a stop in Gaza because of the conflict.
But a senior Hamas figure told Sky News: "Hamas is not optimistic about his visit. Palestinian memories are very negative and bad about Security Council resolutions."
The official added: "Hamas say Palestinians have nothing more to lose - they can continue unlimited fighting with Israel.
"The UN is in some way responsible for the bloodshed. The UN should have acted earlier to negotiate an extension to the ceasefire in December."
As the assault against Hamas militants entered its 19th day, the number of Palestinian dead rose to 971, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, including some 400 women and children.
Israel says 10 Israeli soldiers and three civilians hit by Hamas rockets fired across the border have been killed.
Egypt (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Egypt) has been holding separate talks with representatives from Israel and Hamas, the Islamic group that took control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in June 2007.
Hamas has called for the destruction of Israel and is considered a terrorist group by Israel and the US.
Since Israel launched its air and ground offensive on December 27, Ban said he has been phoning top officials in the Middle East, Europe and the US promoting a ceasefire.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Gaza-UN-Chief-Ban-Ki-Moon-On-Middle-East-Peace-Mission-As-Rockets-Fired-From-Lebanon-Hit-Israel/Article/200901215202934?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15202934_Gaza%3A_UN_Chief_Ban_Ki-Moon_On_Middle_East_Peace_Mission_As_Rockets_Fired _From_Lebanon_Hit_Israel
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2008/May/Week4/15004516.jpg The audiotaped message from bin Laden was posted on Islamic militant websites
In the audiotape posted on Islamic militant websites, bin Laden also condemns Arab governments for preventing their people from acting to "liberate Palestine".
Israeli warplanes have continued to pound targets in Gaza as rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel.
Police said the rockets landed in open areas and there were no reports of damage or injuries.
It is the second time rockets have been fired from Lebanon since heavy fighting between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza began.
Lebanese officials said the Israeli army fired shells into southern Lebanon in retaliation.
The Lebanese army have reportedly found three booby-trapped rockets in the Habariyeh area, close to where the other rockets were launched at Israel, said a security official.
The Israeli military continued airstrikes and ground assaults overnight throughout Gaza (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Gaza), claiming to have hit 60 targets, including a police headquarters and 30 more tunnels.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Ban%20Ki-moon) has repeated his call for an "immediate and durable ceasefire" between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking at a news conference in the Middle East, he said: "Hamas rocket attacks must stop and at the same time I have been condemning the excessive military operation by the Israelis."
He is due to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo to encourage a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Jan/Week2/15202978.jpg UN chief Ban Ki-Moon
Ban will later head to Jordan, Israel (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Israel), the Palestinian-controlled West Bank, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Kuwait, where he said an Arab League economic summit is likely to hold an extra session on the Gaza crisis.
His itinerary does not include a stop in Gaza because of the conflict.
But a senior Hamas figure told Sky News: "Hamas is not optimistic about his visit. Palestinian memories are very negative and bad about Security Council resolutions."
The official added: "Hamas say Palestinians have nothing more to lose - they can continue unlimited fighting with Israel.
"The UN is in some way responsible for the bloodshed. The UN should have acted earlier to negotiate an extension to the ceasefire in December."
As the assault against Hamas militants entered its 19th day, the number of Palestinian dead rose to 971, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, including some 400 women and children.
Israel says 10 Israeli soldiers and three civilians hit by Hamas rockets fired across the border have been killed.
Egypt (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Egypt) has been holding separate talks with representatives from Israel and Hamas, the Islamic group that took control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in June 2007.
Hamas has called for the destruction of Israel and is considered a terrorist group by Israel and the US.
Since Israel launched its air and ground offensive on December 27, Ban said he has been phoning top officials in the Middle East, Europe and the US promoting a ceasefire.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Gaza-UN-Chief-Ban-Ki-Moon-On-Middle-East-Peace-Mission-As-Rockets-Fired-From-Lebanon-Hit-Israel/Article/200901215202934?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15202934_Gaza%3A_UN_Chief_Ban_Ki-Moon_On_Middle_East_Peace_Mission_As_Rockets_Fired _From_Lebanon_Hit_Israel