UN chief in Israel as hosts bomb UN’s HQ

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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Ban expressed "outrage" over the bombing on the U.N. compound, which was housing hundreds of refugees at the time. He said Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told him there had been a "grave mistake" and promised to pay extra attention to protecting U.N. installations. But the U.N. decided to suspend some of its operations in Gaza and said the fire, which was still raging hours later, destroyed an estimated "tens of millions of dollars worth of aid."

Even as a top Israeli envoy went to Egypt to discuss a cease-fire proposal, the military pushed farther into Gaza in an apparent effort to step up pressure on Hamas. Ground forces thrust deep into a crowded neighborhood for the first time, sending terrified residents fleeing for cover, but no place seemed safe in the territory under the deadly Israeli attack. Israeli shells also struck five high-rise apartment buildings and a building housing media outlets in Gaza City, injuring several journalists. The Foreign Press Association demanded a halt to attacks on press buildings, reported The Associated Press.

Ban, who arrived in Israel yesterday morning from Egypt, led international protests describing the Palestinian death toll as "unbearable." France denounced the latest attacks and German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed shock at the humanitarian situation.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also condemned the violence on both sides. In Rome, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, announced he would accompany an aid convoy into Gaza on Monday. He too called for a cease-fire, according to Agence France-Presse.

Truce negotiations
While battles raged on the ground, Egypt kept up Western-backed efforts to end the 20-day-old war that has killed an estimated 600 civilians.

Israeli envoy Amos Gilad traveled to Cairo yesterday to discuss truce prospects with Egypt, which has been serving as the key mediator. His departure, delayed for several days, was seen as a sign of progress in the truce talks. Israel also sent a senior diplomat to Washington to discuss international guarantees that Hamas will not rearm.

"Israel doesn't seem to want to hurry, another shuttle visit could happen to reach an agreement in the context of the Egyptian initiative," an Israeli source told AFP.

Gaza-based Hamas official Ghazi Hamad, meanwhile, said his group has offered amendments to Egypt's original peace proposal, and he expected the Egyptians will convey them to the Israelis. "Consultations are continuing," he said.