24 Jul 2014

Hamas ties ceasefire to end of blockade

5:03 pm on 24 July 2014

The leader of Islamic militant group Hamas has said there can be no ceasefire to ease the conflict in Gaza without an end to Israel's blockade.

Khaled Meshaal said Hamas would continue to reject a lasting ceasefire until its conditions were met.

It follows further Israeli air strikes and ground operations in Gaza, as Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel.

Israel launched its military offensive on 8 July with the declared objective of stopping rocket fire from Gaza.

At least 649 Palestinians and 32 Israeli soldiers, plus three Israeli civilians, have been killed in the past 15 days of fighting, officials say.

An Israeli tank fires a 155mm shell towards targets in the Gaza Strip from its position near Israel's border with the Palestinian enclave.

An Israeli tank fires a 155mm shell towards targets in the Gaza Strip from its position near Israel's border with the Palestinian enclave. Photo: AFP

UN body to launch international investigation

The United Nations Human Rights Council is to launch an international investigation into alleged violations by Israel in its current Gaza offensive.

The BBC reports it follows an emergency meeting where the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, presented evidence of possible war crimes.

She said a series of incidents indicated that war crimes and crimes against humanity had been committed in Gaza, among them Israel's attack on a beach which left four children dead and the shelling of hospitals.

Ms Pillay also condemned Hamas rocket attacks on Israel which she described as indiscriminate.

Both sides, she said had committed acts which needed investigation.

But Navi Pillay's suggestion that the international criminal court could become involved has infuriated Israel.

US resumes flights into Israel

The US Federal Aviation Administration is lifting its ban on American airlines flying into Tel Aviv's international airport.

Earlier the suspension of North American flights to Israel had been extended for a second day, but the FAA now says that three carriers, Delta, United and US Airways, can land there.