Death Toll Surges As Israel Hunts For Soldier

Why Obama's Hands Are Tied Over Gaza

Updated: 4:38am UK, Friday 01 August 2014

By Dominic Waghorn, US Correspondent

On the day the White House said the Israeli military should do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the US confirmed it had agreed to supply the same military with more ammunition.

The Obama administration has hardened its criticism of the shelling of a UN school in Gaza calling it "indefensible" and saying there is little doubt the Israelis were responsible.

"We need our allies in Israel," said administration press secretary Josh Earnest "to live up to the high standards they have set themselves". Meanwhile those same allies were being invited to help themselves to more of the US arms stockpiles in Israel.

Duplicitous double standards or another sign of the complexity of US-Israeli relations? Depends on your point of view.

There is no doubt the Obama administration is concerned and frustrated by Israel's conduct. There is also no doubt the administration will continue to support it to the hilt for as long as required.

Frustrated not least because of the trashing of the US Secretary of State John Kerry by Israeli cabinet ministers and media after his efforts to broker a ceasefire.

The Obama administration has not hidden its fury at the personal attacks on America's chief diplomat by senior members of the Netanyahu government.

The mounting civilian suffering is a concern to the US, for humanitarian and diplomatic reasons.

What's left of America's standing in the Arab world is further undermined by gruesome pictures of slaughter caused by US-supplied weaponry being fired into Gaza.  

A lot has been made of the dysfunctional relationship of the two countries' leaders. 

Bibi and Barack have had more than their share of differences, and none of the political intimacy of George W Bush and Ariel Sharon. 

But these days Israel can take US support for granted far more than it could back then.

When Ariel Sharon wanted to send his military into Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank in 2002 he personally asked Bush to let him do so and give him enough time to finish the job.

The destruction in Jenin is nothing compared to what Israel has wrought in Gaza and it has done so without needing to ask for American permission. 

There are many reasons for US support for Israel, some historic, others more current.

The US-Israeli relationship is one of the fundamental constants of American foreign policy in the Middle East. With a region in ferment and in a state of flux, that is more important to Washington than ever.

The Israeli lobby is also hugely powerful in the US. 

Capitol Hill has been called Israeli-occupied territory; such is the sway the Jewish state holds over US politicians.

Multifarious pro-Israel organisations, millions given to Israel supporters at election time and masterful use of the media all mean that is unlikely to change.

Israel has the same hold on everyday Americans as it has on politicians.

US public opinion has been overwhelmingly sympathetic to Israel since the second intifada when the Palestinians began blowing up women and children on buses and since 9/11, which hardened US attitudes to violent Muslims of any description.

More often than not the US media is inclined to accept the Israeli narrative. 

Coverage of tunnels out of Gaza is a case in point.

When Israeli military PR shifted the focus from rockets to tunnels, US coverage followed.

Too much talk of rockets is a threat to Israel economically now the country's main airport is within range.

Israel now claims Hamas tunnels are their main casus belli.

There has been little questioning of Israeli claims they are a terrorist threat to women and children, when thus far they have only been used by Hamas militants for military purposes to target Israeli soldiers. 

US support of Israel is mirrored by the attitude of some Arab nations in the region.

Egypt's recent ceasefire plan angered Hamas by including many of Israel's demands and few of the Palestinians'.

The Saudis and Jordanians are also quietly cheering the Jewish state from the sidelines. 

Since the last major Israeli operation in Gaza the faultlines have shifted in the Middle East because of the deepening chasm among Muslims, between Sunnis and Shia. 

On one side, Iran and its allies, the Assad regime in Damascus, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

On the other Tehran's enemies in the Gulf and Egypt who are in no mood to help out Iran's Sunni allies, Hamas in Gaza. 

While much of the Middle East remains silent as the carnage continues in Gaza, Israel will assume it is carrying out the wishes of at least some of its neighbours.

Washington will continue dishing out carefully worded criticism if Israel keeps facing claims it has shelled children sleeping in UN buildings.

But it is not going to be reducing its support for its closest ally in an increasingly troubled region.

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Ebola: Games Athletes Afraid To Return Home

Many members of Sierra Leone's Commonwealth Games team are afraid to return home because of the outbreak of ebola, it has been reported.

A team representative told The Times newspaper the athletes fear they may not be safe if they go back to their country where a national emergency has been declared.

More than 220 people have died in Sierra Leone after contracting the disease - more than any other country.

Unisa Deen Kargbo, the team's chef de mission, told The Times: "Many people are thinking whether or not to go home now.

"Everybody is worried and many of them don't want to go home now because of the ebola.

Medecin Sans Frontieres medics have been treating victims in Sierra Leone

"We have held several meetings with them, but they are still worried. This virus is spreading around our country and everyone is at risk of catching it.

"The problem is, if they want to stay on after the Commonwealth Games end, who will take care of them?

"They will have no accommodation, no work. How do they meet their needs? How will they get themselves employed?"

It was reported in the Daily Telegraph that one of Sierra Leone's athletes, Mohamed Tholley, had failed to turn up to a time trial event he had been due to take part in.

Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol are being flown to the US for treatment

Strathclyde Police told Sky News that Mr Tholley had not been reported missing, but there was said to be confusion over his whereabouts.

Sierra Leone cyclist Moses Sesay, 32, was tested for ebola last week after he was admitted to a Glasgow hospital feeling unwell.

At least 729 people are said to have died as a result of the ebola outbreak in the four African countries worst affected.

Two American aid workers seriously ill with the virus are being transferred from west Africa to the United States for treatment.

They will be the first cases of ebola to be treated on US soil and will be treated in one of the most tightly sealed isolation units in the country.

The Americans will be flown home in a specially adapted private jet

One was due to arrive on Saturday and the second will arrive a few days later. Both are in a "stable but grave condition".

The two Americans - Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol - worked for US missionary groups in Liberia at a hospital that treated Ebola patients.

The World Health Organisation's director-general warned on Friday that the ebola outbreak, which has killed at least 729 people, is out of control but can be stopped.

Margaret Chan told the presidents of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - the worst affected nations - that the consequences could be "catastrophic" if the situation continued to deteriorate.

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Body Parts Found At Waste Recycling Plant

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

Police are investigating whether a man whose remains were found at a waste depot fell asleep in a recycling bin.

The body of Matthew Symonds, 34, was found on Friday morning at the Biffa-operated site next to Avonmouth docks near Bristol.

Detectives believe he had been transported 45 miles in a recycling bin from his home town of Swindon.

His death is being treated as unexplained and officers are waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination.

Senior investigating officer DCI Gareth Bevan said: "Police enquiries so far suggest the body was transported with commercial recycling waste collected in Swindon and therefore the focus of the investigation will be in that area going forward.

"The investigation is at an early stage and we are keeping an open mind about the circumstances leading to his death. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very difficult time."

A police team has been working at the waste plant examining machinery and the area where he was found.

Mr Symonds' relatives are being supported by family liaison officers from Wiltshire Police.

:: Human Remains Found In Ireland

Police are investigating after a human leg was found in a recycling plant in Ireland.

A worker found the severed limb at Thorntons plant in Killeen Road, Ballyfermot, west Dublin, on Thursday night.

A doctor was unable to say whether it is from a woman or a man.

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Status Quo Star Taken To Hospital As Gigs Axed

Status Quo have been forced to cancel a series of concerts in Europe after guitarist Rick Parfitt was taken ill in hospital.

The British rock group, known for hits such as Whatever You Want and Rockin' All Over The World, had been due to play in Croatia tonight.

It was one of six shows on the current leg of their European tour which have now been shelved as doctors assess the musician in a hospital in Pula, northern Croatia.

The band's manager Simon Porter said: "The band do not cancel shows lightly, as any of our fans will tell you, but in this instance we have no option but to follow medical advice."

Parfitt with fellow Quo star Francis Rossi

It is not known whether their UK tour, scheduled for December, will be affected.

The nature of Parfitt's condition has not been revealed, although a spokesman said the band will release more information next week.

Nine years ago the rock star - who leads Status Quo with Francis Rossi - was forced to cancel shows as he underwent tests for suspected throat cancer.

In 1997, Parfitt had a quadruple heart bypass after doctors said he could die at any time following a hard-living lifestyle involving drink and drugs.

Status Quo currently hold the record for the most British singles, at 64.

More follows...

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'No Evidence' Kidnapped Israeli Is British

Why Obama's Hands Are Tied Over Gaza

Updated: 4:38am UK, Friday 01 August 2014

By Dominic Waghorn, US Correspondent

On the day the White House said the Israeli military should do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the US confirmed it had agreed to supply the same military with more ammunition.

The Obama administration has hardened its criticism of the shelling of a UN school in Gaza calling it "indefensible" and saying there is little doubt the Israelis were responsible.

"We need our allies in Israel," said administration press secretary Josh Earnest "to live up to the high standards they have set themselves". Meanwhile those same allies were being invited to help themselves to more of the US arms stockpiles in Israel.

Duplicitous double standards or another sign of the complexity of US-Israeli relations? Depends on your point of view.

There is no doubt the Obama administration is concerned and frustrated by Israel's conduct. There is also no doubt the administration will continue to support it to the hilt for as long as required.

Frustrated not least because of the trashing of the US Secretary of State John Kerry by Israeli cabinet ministers and media after his efforts to broker a ceasefire.

The Obama administration has not hidden its fury at the personal attacks on America's chief diplomat by senior members of the Netanyahu government.

The mounting civilian suffering is a concern to the US, for humanitarian and diplomatic reasons.

What's left of America's standing in the Arab world is further undermined by gruesome pictures of slaughter caused by US-supplied weaponry being fired into Gaza.  

A lot has been made of the dysfunctional relationship of the two countries' leaders. 

Bibi and Barack have had more than their share of differences, and none of the political intimacy of George W Bush and Ariel Sharon. 

But these days Israel can take US support for granted far more than it could back then.

When Ariel Sharon wanted to send his military into Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank in 2002 he personally asked Bush to let him do so and give him enough time to finish the job.

The destruction in Jenin is nothing compared to what Israel has wrought in Gaza and it has done so without needing to ask for American permission. 

There are many reasons for US support for Israel, some historic, others more current.

The US-Israeli relationship is one of the fundamental constants of American foreign policy in the Middle East. With a region in ferment and in a state of flux, that is more important to Washington than ever.

The Israeli lobby is also hugely powerful in the US. 

Capitol Hill has been called Israeli-occupied territory; such is the sway the Jewish state holds over US politicians.

Multifarious pro-Israel organisations, millions given to Israel supporters at election time and masterful use of the media all mean that is unlikely to change.

Israel has the same hold on everyday Americans as it has on politicians.

US public opinion has been overwhelmingly sympathetic to Israel since the second intifada when the Palestinians began blowing up women and children on buses and since 9/11, which hardened US attitudes to violent Muslims of any description.

More often than not the US media is inclined to accept the Israeli narrative. 

Coverage of tunnels out of Gaza is a case in point.

When Israeli military PR shifted the focus from rockets to tunnels, US coverage followed.

Too much talk of rockets is a threat to Israel economically now the country's main airport is within range.

Israel now claims Hamas tunnels are their main casus belli.

There has been little questioning of Israeli claims they are a terrorist threat to women and children, when thus far they have only been used by Hamas militants for military purposes to target Israeli soldiers. 

US support of Israel is mirrored by the attitude of some Arab nations in the region.

Egypt's recent ceasefire plan angered Hamas by including many of Israel's demands and few of the Palestinians'.

The Saudis and Jordanians are also quietly cheering the Jewish state from the sidelines. 

Since the last major Israeli operation in Gaza the faultlines have shifted in the Middle East because of the deepening chasm among Muslims, between Sunnis and Shia. 

On one side, Iran and its allies, the Assad regime in Damascus, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

On the other Tehran's enemies in the Gulf and Egypt who are in no mood to help out Iran's Sunni allies, Hamas in Gaza. 

While much of the Middle East remains silent as the carnage continues in Gaza, Israel will assume it is carrying out the wishes of at least some of its neighbours.

Washington will continue dishing out carefully worded criticism if Israel keeps facing claims it has shelled children sleeping in UN buildings.

But it is not going to be reducing its support for its closest ally in an increasingly troubled region.

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Gatwick Fliers Advised Over Swissport Problems

Passengers at Gatwick are being advised to pack essential items in their hand luggage ahead of more possible disruption at the airport this weekend.

Baggage-handling company Swissport is under fire after many travellers reported waiting several hours for their bags to make it off planes last weekend.

Some were even told to go home without their luggage and the airport hit out at the company, saying it had "failed to meet standards".

A spokeswoman for travel organisation Abta said: "We hope people can pass through Gatwick smoothly this weekend. But if people are concerned it would be a good idea for them to put essential items in their carry-on bags.

"Both Gatwick and Swissport are putting on extra people and we are confident this should help address the problem."

Swissport has called up 40 extra staff to help, and Gatwick itself is also drafting in extra manpower to help ease any delays during one of the airport's busiest weekends.

However, it is understood that Swissport is using staff on zero-hours contracts who could be reluctant to work unsocial hours.

The baggage problem was at its worst late on Saturday evening and into the early hours of Sunday.

Gatwick Airport is scheduled to have one of its busiest weekends

Swissport, which operates at 263 airports in 45 countries, has denied the problems at Gatwick were down to zero-hours workers.

Richard Sargent, 23, a wheelchair basketball player for Team GB who returned on Sunday from holiday in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh, had to wait more than four hours for his wheelchair.

"I was left stranded in baggage reclaim. I was not asking for special treatment, just to be able to freely move around the terminal and use the toilet," Mr Sargent told the Daily Telegraph.

Swissport denied problems were due to zero-hours contract workers

Some 276,000 passengers are expected to use the airport this weekend and Swissport says it is doing all it can to avoid a repeat of the delays.

It said: "Nothing that has happened during the past week gives an indication that this weekend will cause the baggage chaos being suggested.

"In order to accommodate the expected higher level of movements this weekend, Swissport has continued its policy of recruitment to Gatwick and increased its ramp staff accordingly."

It added: "The summer peak season puts pressure on all baggage handling companies.

Gatwick, in West Sussex, is currently lobbying for an extra runway

"Swissport is disappointed that we have fallen below our standards during this time and will do all possible to ensure the travelling public are not inconvenienced in any way."

Willie Walsh, the boss of the company that owns BA and Iberia, has also defended Swissport.

He told Sky News: "I think Swissport is a good company - they provide us with services around the world.

"To be fair to them, it's not all their fault because Gatwick was affected by some adverse weather which meant schedules were running well off plan and aircraft were arriving at a time where they did not have resources in place."

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Rolf Harris Plan To Appeal 'An Insult'

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

One of Rolf Harris' victims has told Sky News his request to appeal his conviction is "an insult".

Lawyers for the disgraced entertainer lodged papers at the Court of Appeal this week, the Judicial Office has revealed.

One of the women who gave evidence against him during the trial told Sky News: "I perhaps should have expected it but it is still a shock."

The victim who cannot be named added: "It feels like such an insult and just beyond belief for him to do that."

The artist and musician was convicted at London's Southwark Crown Court on June 30 of 12 indecent assaults and sentenced to five years and nine months in jail.

The appeal papers will go before a single judge who will decide initially whether or not Harris has grounds for appeal.

The Judicial Office confirmed to Sky News that no timescale had yet been set for the process.

If permission to appeal is granted then a full hearing at the Court of Appeal would fully assess Harris' case.

If, however, he is denied permission to appeal then he would be able to reapply.

One of the assaults was on an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two on girls in their early teens and another on a close friend of his daughter.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Jeremy Wright confirmed Harris' sentence would not be referred to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that it was too lenient, despite 150 complaints that the jail term was not tough enough.

The artist and TV presenter's offences took place between 1968 and 1986 against girls aged between seven or eight and 18.

He was prosecuted in line with the laws in place at the time of his crimes - when the maximum jail term for indecent assault was two years, or five years if the victim was under 13.

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Eastbourne Pier Fire Treated As Suspicious

The fire that gutted much of Eastbourne Pier is being treated as suspicious, Sussex Police have said.

"As a result of our investigation we have received information to suggest that the fire may have been started by someone, either deliberately or accidentally, and our investigation is now focusing on that line of enquiry," said Detective Inspector Mark O'Brien.

"A temporary scaffold platform has been erected adjacent to where the fire is thought to have broken out in order to enable scenes of crime officers and fire investigators safe access to the area."

The PM and Chancellor see the charred structure

The news came after Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne visited the resort, pledging £2m to the town to help it recover following the fire on the landmark attraction.

Fire investigators had earlier said they were not sure what caused the fire, indicating it would take some days before they could discover what had happened.

Passers-by stop to look at the damage

A large part of the 144-year-old Grade II-listed structure was reduced to a skeleton on Wednesday as plumes of smoke rose high into the sky above the resort.

Up to 80 firefighters attended, pumping water on to the burning structure from the coast, the beach and from underneath.

The fire took hours to bring under control

It was eventually brought under control shortly before 8pm, with around 30 firefighters staying at the scene overnight.

On Thursday, local MP Stephen Lloyd said it was possible that the pier could reopen as soon as next year.

"There is real damage but I'm confident that it can be repaired," the LibDem MP said.

Up to 80 firefighters worked for hours to put out the flames

"It's very much still standing and I'm very hopeful and confident that it will be reopening next year and be back in business."

Eastbourne is the latest in a series of Victorian piers to suffer major fire damage.

In 2003, the 148-year-old West Pier in Brighton was reduced to a mangled mass of metal by two major fires within two months.

The pier in one piece, pictured in 2010

And in Eastbourne's neighbouring town of Hastings, the Grade II-listed pier was almost destroyed in a fire in 2010 following years of neglect.

Southend Pier in Essex was badly damaged by fire in 2005 and Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare was wrecked by a blaze in 2008.

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Three Britons Killed In Croatia Car Crash

Three members of a British family have been killed after their BMW crashed into a lorry in Croatia.

The driver, a 37-year-old man, and two children died in the crash near the village of Slano, in the south of the country.

His wife and nine-year-old son, who were also in the car, were left critically injured and are being treated in a local hospital.

Doctors said the woman is the more seriously injured, while the child has chest injuries.

Their car has UK number plates, suggesting the family had travelled from Britain to Croatia.

Their car was severely damaged in the crash

It hit a concrete verge and careered into the path of an oncoming truck, say reports.

Paramedic Josko Gverovic said: "We found five persons inside the car. The scene was horrifying.

"I work in ambulance for years and I can say that this is one of the worst accidents I have witnessed.

"We did our best to help, we took the mother to hospital, she is now fighting for her life. She was in critical condition, it looked really bad."

The driver of the truck, a 46-year-old man from Dubrovnik, was uninjured.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We are aware of an incident in Dubrovnik, Croatia and we are in contact with the local authorities.

"We stand ready to provide consulate assistance."

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UN 'Completely Overwhelmed' By Gaza Refugees

The United Nations says it is "completely overwhelmed" by the number of Palestinians seeking refuge in its Gaza camps.

Chris Gunness, spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), told Sky News its shelters were "overflowing" and that "Gaza is being destroyed".

"Eight of my colleagues have been killed. We simply can't cope," said Mr Gunness.

"The Israeli army has been dropping leaflets over Gaza telling people to leave their homes.

"We may well soon be in a position where there are tens of thousands stranded in the streets of Gaza with missiles flying in, rockets flying out.

"These people will be without food, shelter, blankets, mattresses, without water.

Palestinians survey the rubble of a house in Gaza

"The parties to this conflict need to realise that UNRWA does not have an infinite capacity to absorb the consequences of their military campaign."

Some 245,000 Palestinians have fled to 80 UN-run schools and other public buildings as their homes have been destroyed by Israeli rockets, or are under threat of being hit.

Children in the Jebalya camp, home to more than 3,000 refugees

A rocket which hit a camp in Jebalya on Wednesday morning as families slept killed at least 16 people and has been widely condemned.

Israel has said it is investigating the incident and reiterated it does not intentionally target civilians.

It blames Hamas for embedding itself among the civilian population and points to the fact that the group's rockets have been found in three UN schools.

The Jebalya camp was hit - but Israel says it does not target civilians

Mr Gunness conceded that Hamas fighters had infiltrated three of its facilities but said that militants had taken advantage of empty schools "mothballed" for the summer.

"As soon as we found out about this ... we proactively told the parties about them, we issued a public condemnation.

"Were we expected to chuck these weapons in the back of a pick-up and drive them through a warzone and somehow disable them? Or drive them across the confrontation line and give them to Israel?"

Chris Gunness admitted militants had stored rockets at three schools

The UN says nearly 1,300 Palestinians have been killed since Israeli began rocket attacks early in July.

"Gaza is being destroyed," said Mr Gunness.

"On the ground, the effort to rebuild Gaza is going to be very long and very expensive and the people who are stranded ... what is going to happen to them?"

"When this war is over they will have nowhere to go. We cannot have a situation where these people are left in these totally overcrowded UNRWA schools."

Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said the country will not agree a ceasefire until all of Hamas' cross-border "terror tunnels" are destroyed.

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Firefighters Battle Power Station Blaze

Firefighters are battling a blaze at a coal-fired power station in West Yorkshire.

Emergency services were alerted to a fire at the Ferrybridge C plant shortly before 2pm.

The blaze is on the third floor of a four-storey building.

Plumes of smoke can be seen from the fire. Pic: Matthew Merrick

A total of 15 fire engines are currently at the scene, including crews from Pontefract, Castleford and Wakefield, as well as two aerial ladder platforms.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "A number of members of the public have called our control room due to the plumes of smoke which can be seen in the surrounding area."

No one is reported to have been injured and everyone at the site has been accounted for.

The power station is located close to where the M62 and the A1 meet.

The site is operated by the energy giant SSE and has had three power stations since 1924. The current one has operated since 1966.

Emergency response procedures have been activated. Pic: @SnapperJakeO.

A statement issued by SSE said: "At around 2pm today a serious incident occurred at SSE's Ferrybridge C power station in West Yorkshire.

"The company's practised emergency response procedures have been activated.

"West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service are in attendance and dealing with the incident with assistance from expert engineers on site. All employees have been accounted for.

"It is too early to give any more information regarding this incident; however, we will issue a further statement when more details become available.

"Our immediate priorities are to deal with the incident and to ensure the safety of staff, contractors and the general public."

The site has undergone major changes as part of the EU Industrial Emissions Directive, which aims to reduce pollution.

A 65MW multi-fuel plant was expected to begin operating on the site next year.

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Israel's PM 'To Finish Job' As Troops Boosted

Thousands more Israeli troops are to join the fight in Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising to destroy Hamas tunnels "with or without a ceasefire".

Some 16,000 additional troops are joining the operation in Gaza "to allow troops on the ground to rest", said an army spokeswoman.

The boost takes the number of reservists involved to 86,000.

It comes as the Commissioner General for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) warned that Gaza is on a "precipice".

Israel says it is close to destroying all Hamas cross-border attack tunnels

Pierre Krahenbuhl told the UN Security Council he had witnessed the "catastrophic human cost" of the conflict, in which more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed.

He said the estimated 240,000 people who have sought refuge in UN shelters are facing "dire conditions" as a result of the "extensive and often disproportionate use of force."

Strikes on Gaza continued on Thursday

UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos told the Council the total number of displaced people now stands at 440,000, roughly 25% of Gaza's population.

Israel launched Operation Protective Edge on July 8 with the stated intention of ending Hamas rocket attacks.

It later ordered its ground forces to locate and destroy a warren of cross-border tunnels which it says Hamas has used to infiltrate southern towns and army bases.

The school where Palestine officials say at least 16 died in shelling

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting on Thursday he was determined to finish the job "with or without a ceasefire," as attacks on both sides continued.

He said: "I wont agree to any proposal that will not enable the Israeli military to complete this important task for the sake of Israel's security."

The army said 32 secret passages had been found so far and half of them blown up, with the end of the operation apparently just days away.

Three Israeli soldiers were killed on Wednesday by a booby trap detonated as they uncovered a tunnel shaft, the army said, bringing the total military death toll to 56.

Three civilians have also been killed in Israeli, including a Thai national.

The locations of refugee camps in the Gaza Strip

Hamas' military leader Mohammed Deif has said the militants will not cease firing until their demands are met.

They want Israel and Egypt to lift a crippling border blockade imposed after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.

Meanwhile investigations continue into Wednesday's shelling of a market and a UN-run school housing more than 3,000 refugees.

The school attack left 16 people dead, including children.

Israel has said it is looking into the case, but has repeated it does not have a policy of targeting civilians.

It was the second attack on one of the UN's 80 schools, which are designated safe zones.

The strike on the Shejaiza market is said to have killed at least 17 people

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the school shelling was "outrageous" and "unjustifiable".

He said: "Nothing is more shameful than attacking sleeping children."

A carefully-worded White House statement also "condemned the shelling," but did not mention Israel explicitly.

The Pentagon later confirmed it had agreed to an "emergency" Israeli request to stock up on grenades and mortar rounds from a store it has kept in the country for several years.

Pentagon spokesman Admiral John Kirby said the request was received on July 20 and approved three days later, without needing White House approval.

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Israeli Military 'Intensifies Gaza Attacks'

Israeli media has reported that the military is intensifying aerial attacks on Gaza ahead of a possible deepening of its ground operation.

Israel's Haaretz newspaper cited an unnamed military in its report.

It comes shortly before a four-hour partial humanitarian ceasefire, announced by Israel, was due to expire.

Israel said it would halt assaults in certain areas of the coastal strip until 7pm local time (5pm UK time).

Damage to the school in Jebalya that doubles up as a shelter for refugees

Hamas responded by saying the lull had "no value", and continued firing rockets into Israel.

Israel agreed to hold fire in Gaza after a night of heavy shelling left at least 43 people dead, including many at a UN school.

The school in Jebalya refugee camp, where aid workers say they are at "breaking point" helping some of the 200,000 people who have been displaced by the war, was hit around dawn.

At least 19 people, including a young child, were killed, many of them as they slept.

Jebalya is one of eight UN refugee camps in Gaza

Adbel Karim al Masamha, who came to Jebalya with his family to seek refuge, said: "People were martyred before our eyes. They were dismembered."

Another refugee, Haleema Ghabin, added: "No place is safe, neither homes nor schools. We are defenceless."

Jebalya was the second UN-run school to be hit in the past week, with a complex in Beit Hanoun struck last Thursday, killing at least 15 people.

An Israeli defence spokesman said militants near the school fired mortars at soldiers before the attack.

Sky's Sherine Tadros saw the aftermath of a rocket attack in Gaza City

The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said it told Israel "17 times" the building was being used by refugees, although it also confirmed other schools had been used to store weapons.

On the 23rd day of the conflict, Israeli TV said progress was being made to achieve a peace deal, with a Palestinian delegation expected to arrive in Egypt for discussions.

Earlier, thick, black smoke could be seen rising from blazing fuel tanks at Gaza's only power station, which was knocked out on the bloodiest day of the conflict so far.

At least 128 Palestinians were killed as Israel sought to destroy what it called Hamas "terror sites" with heavy fire from the air, land and sea.

Hundreds of homes have been razed to the ground in Gaza

It says its ongoing operation is meant to stop Hamas rocket fire and demolish a sophisticated network of tunnels.

More than 2,600 missiles have been fired from Gaza in the past three weeks, the Israeli army said.

Meanwhile, the leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, issued a rare statement, saying there will be no end to the fighting until the blockade of Gaza is lifted.

According to UNRWA, about 10% of Palestinians - more than 200,000 people - have been displaced by fighting.

The figure is triple that seen at the peak of the 2008/9 conflict, with the organisation warning all of its camps are now full.

Justine Greening, the international development secretary, described the situation as "dire", as the UK pledged an extra £3m to provide a month of emergency food for more than 300,000 people.

More than 1,200 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed since the start of the offensive on July 8.

On the Israeli side, 53 soldiers and three civilians have died.

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Ebola Cure 'A Long Way Off': Facts About Virus

A cure for the deadly ebola virus, which has killed hundreds of people in West Africa, is "a very long way off", an expert has told Sky News.

David Evans, a professor of virology at Warwick University, said ebola is the latest disease to be transmitted "very efficiently" because of international travel.

More than 670 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria have fallen victim to the viral illness, which has a fatality rate of up to 90%.

Those with ebola will often be overcome by a sudden onset of fever, as well as weakness, muscle pain and headaches.

The body is then gripped by vomiting, diarrhoea, rashes, kidney and liver problems and bleeding.

Medical staff bring food to patients in an isolation area in Sierra Leone

The time between infection and symptoms appearing is anything from two days to three weeks.

Ebola is spread through the direct contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of those infected.

The liquid that bathes the eye and semen can transmit the disease, Prof Evans said.

Horseshoe bats are believed to be the natural host of the viral disease, he said.

"These bats transmit the virus between themselves, but periodically it then ends up in probably primates or other types of bushmeat which are then hunted by villagers and the virus is then transmitted from the sick animals to humans," he said.

The latest outbreak is centred on four countries in west Africa

Transmission has also been documented through the handling of chimpanzees, gorillas and porcupines.

One of the reasons for the disease's rapid spread is a tradition at burial ceremonies for mourners to have direct contact with the body of the deceased.

"Therefore barrier methods that prevent that direct contact, including things like washing of hands and things like that provide a reasonable level of protection," he said.

Healthcare workers treating patients are particularly at risk.

Public Health England said in a risk assessment published earlier this month said that the current outbreak could increase the risk for Britons working in humanitarian and healthcare delivery.

The first outbreak was recorded in 1976

But the threat to tourists, visitors and expatriates is still considered "very low if elementary precautions are followed".

Prof Evans said there had been "periodic outbreaks" of ebola since the first recorded instances in 1976, but this is the deadliest so far.

There were two simultaneous outbreaks in Nzara, Sudan and Yambuku, a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo located near the Ebola River.

Data from the World Health Organisation shows the previous deadliest outbreak was the one in the DRC, when 280 out of 315 people infected died.

In the same country in 1995 another outbreak claimed 254 lives, with 315 patients infected.

In 2000, there were 425 cases in Uganda and 224 people died.

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'Precautions' Taken Amid Ebola Virus Fears

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said it is "most unlikely" that Ebola could spread within the UK but "precautionary measures" have been put in place.

Mr Hammond was speaking after a meeting of the Government's emergency committee, Cobra, to discuss what he earlier called a "new and emerging" threat.

Doctors in Britain have been put on alert to spot symptoms of the deadly disease, which has killed more than 670 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria since February in what is the largest outbreak in history.

Infection results from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids and tissues of infected animals or people.

Speaking before the meeting, Mr Hammond told Sky News that while there are no cases in the UK, Prime Minister David Cameron regards the disease as a "very serious threat".

UK and European flight routes to the countries affected by ebola

"We are very much focused on it as a new and emerging threat which we need to deal with," Mr Hammond said.

A person from Birmingham was tested for ebola after returning from Africa, but the tests came back negative.

The man was tested earlier this week after reportedly travelling from Benin in Nigeria via Paris to the Midlands.

Another man visited Charing Cross Hospital in London after fearing he had the virus, but doctors decided he did not need an ebola test. 

Dr Brian McCloskey, director of global health at Public Health England (PHE), said the risk to British travellers and workers was low, but doctors needed to be vigilant for "unexplained illnesses" in those who have returned from the affected countries.

Medical staff prepare to bring food to patients in an isolation area

Dr McCloskey said: "The continuing increase in cases, especially in Sierra Leone, and the importation of a single case from Liberia to Nigeria is a cause for concern as it indicates the outbreak is not yet under control."

Those who experience symptoms should "immediately seek medical assistance", Dr McCloskey said.

British Airways, which flies to Sierra Leone and Nigeria, said in a statement it complies with guidance from local health authorities and will "continue to monitor the situation closely".

Cabin crew are advised to contact air traffic control if they see someone on board who they suspect could have the disease.

Countries affected by the ebola outbreak

In 2012, a man with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, which is related to ebola, was flown from Glasgow Airport to London by the RAF to be treated at the Royal Free Hospital in north London.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "We are well-prepared to identify and deal with any potential cases of ebola, though there has never been a case in this country.

"Any patients with suspected symptoms can be diagnosed within 24 hours and they would also be isolated at a dedicated unit to keep the public safe."

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Eastbourne Pier On Fire As Arcade Catches Light

A fire has erupted at Eastbourne Pier after one of the arcade buildings caught light at the popular seaside resort.

Six fire engines are at the scene battling the blaze after police evacuated scores of tourists and beachgoers from the attraction.

Three lifeboats have also been launched amid reports some people may have leapt from the pier into the sea.

Dave Clarke, a witness, told Sky News: "The front of the pier is totally alight. Smoke is going hundreds of feet into the air and is being blown down the beach. It is totally out of control at the moment.

"There are helicopters overhead and they have closed the roads off down here.

"There are lifeboats to make sure there is nobody stuck at the end of the pier."

He added: "I was just walking along and getting an ice-cream for my boy when I saw smoke coming out the main building.

"People are relatively calm, but shocked."

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Gaza: '100 Palestinians Killed In One Day'

Israel has stepped up its military campaign in Gaza, where more than 100 Palestinians have been killed on Tuesday alone and the only power plant has been destroyed.

The Israeli military targeted dozens of additional sites across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a "prolonged campaign" against Hamas.

The power station supplies two thirds of the territory's energy needs

Palestinian health officials said the latest fatalities include ten members of the same family who were killed during an Israeli airstrike.

The total Palestinian death toll now stands at more than 1,150.

Israel has lost 53 soldiers, along with two civilians and a Thai national.

The plant's director said the facility was 'finished'

Mr Netanyahu launched an aerial offensive against Gaza on July 8, declaring the aim was to halt rockets fired by Hamas and its allies into Israel.

It launched a ground invasion shortly afterwards, primarily aimed at destroying a network of cross-border tunnels which Hamas is accused of using to infiltrate Israel.

The US has reiterated that it supports Israel's right to defend itself, but is working towards deescalating the conflict. 

The power station was hit last week and was operating on reduced capacity

US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters: "We are working very carefully with our Israeli friends in order to reduce the civilian loss of life, to prevent this from spiralling downwards into a place from which both sides have difficulty finding a way forward in order to address the underlying issues".

Earlier on Tuesday a senior official of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) said the Palestinian leadership, along with Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group, were willing to observe a humanitarian truce of 24 hours.

But the statement was contradicted by a Hamas spokesman in Gaza who said the PLO official was not speaking on behalf of the group.

Israel rejected the offer saying that until it heard from Hamas directly, it was "not serious".

A Palestinian girl at the scene of an explosion that killed nine children

The proposal came after the fuel depot at Gaza's only power plant was practically destroyed on Tuesday morning, potentially cutting electricity to the enclave's 1.8 million residents and causing further disruption to the water supply.

The power plant supplies two thirds of the territory's energy needs and was engulfed in flames sending a column of black smoke into the air.

According to a spokesman for Gaza's electricity distribution company, the power plant was hit by shells fired from an Israeli tank, a claim which could not be verified.

The Al Aqsa TV headquarters were hit by an Israeli shell

The power station was hit last week and had been operating on a reduced capacity providing only a few hours of electricity per day to Gaza's residents.

"The power plant is finished," said its director, Mohammed al Sharif, who added the local fire brigade was not equipped to extinguish the blaze.

Other symbols of Hamas government control, including the headquarters of the Hamas satellite TV station Al Aqsa and Al Aqsa radio were also targeted.

Hamas said that despite the attack the stations continued to broadcast.

The home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was also hit by a missile early this morning causing damage but no casualties, Gaza's Interior Ministry said.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza and called on the Islamic world to arm Palestinians fighting "the Zionist regime".

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Gaza Conflict 'Is Like An Endless Horror Film'

By Sherine Tadros, Middle East Correspondent, in Gaza City

"Stay safe," people keep telling us.

"Where?" I always reply.

One of the harsh realities of this war is that there seem to be no red lines or boundaries.

People here are locked inside a tiny, cramped territory while the Israeli army bombs their homes, businesses, schools and hospitals.

A Palestinian mourns during a funeral in Khan Younis, southern Gaza

Some 23,160 buildings have been damaged in the past three weeks, including 560 houses that were specifically targeted, according to the Health Ministry.

Most of the time there is no electricity, so at night you can only listen to what's happening around you in the dark.

Parents watch as their children die, children watch as their parents die - it's like a horror film.

The hardest part is how to convey the emotion and explain the events you are witnessing to people who live thousands of miles away and have likely never been to Gaza.

Smoke rises from the Gaza Strip after an Israeli shelling

How do you do the story justice, remaining calm and fair?

Journalists are obsessed with the idea of balance, but what throws us off is that this is not an equal battle.

Israel says it is defending its civilians from rockets indiscriminately fired at them and underground tunnels used to infiltrate and kill soldiers.

Hamas says it is defending their civilians from an Israeli imposed siege that has strangled Gaza and affects every part of daily life.

Smoke trails from rockets fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip

The sad reality is that this war will likely end with Israel keeping Gaza under a blockade, which means Hamas will continue to resist - if not with rockets then tunnels, if not with tunnels then something else.

And if it's not Hamas it will be another group. The violence will continue as long as there is a cause.

Covering this war has been just as devastating as in 2008/9, the last time Israel launched a ground assault and I was inside Gaza.

Back then, people felt they were paying the price for a battle between Hamas and Israel.

This time, after seven years of living under siege, many sound hopeless and support Hamas (they call it "the resistance") because they feel there is no other way to end the misery they are living in.

My parents tell me stories of going on holiday to Gaza when they were young.

It has a beautiful coastline and when the drones and jets are quiet you can hear the waves crashing on the beach.

But the last few years of the blockade have been especially tough and Gaza is now a ghetto of 1.8 million people with many living in refugee camps surrounded by bombed out buildings.

Yesterday, at a UN school turned shelter, a woman asked me where I was from.

"Egypt," I replied, expecting her to lecture me about the country's complicity in the siege and how much she hates Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi.

But instead she said in a strong, sad voice: "Take me back with you."

It's simple really: people in Gaza, like elsewhere in the world, just want a chance to live with dignity.

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MH17 Families Want Dignity For Loved Ones

Where And Why Are Flights Banned?

Updated: 12:21pm UK, Tuesday 29 July 2014

The shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 has increased debate about whether aircraft should be allowed to fly over battlegrounds.

As aviation industry chiefs from around the world meet in Montreal to discuss how to avoid a repeat of the disaster, Sky News looks at where no-fly zones exist and why they were introduced.

:: Ukraine

All aircraft are banned from the part of Ukrainian airspace immediately over Donetsk, unless the pilot has been given special permission.

The shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 indicates "the potential for continued hazardous activities", the Federal Aviation Authority warns.

Pilots who are forced to fly over Donetsk because of an emergency must explain why they took the route they did within 10 days.

:: North Korea

All aircraft are banned from flying over North Korea, unless the pilot has been given special permission.

In its latest advice to pilots, the Federal Aviation Authority says: "North Korea has a history of launching short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles with no warning."

Pilots who are forced to fly over North Korea because of an emergency must explain why they took the route they did within 10 days.

:: Iraq

All US aircraft must fly at a height of 18,000ft (5,486m) or above over Iraq, unless the pilot has been given special permission.

The Federal Aviation Authority says heightened tensions and instability in the country "have increased the threat to civil aircraft" and warns the Iraqi military has a "wide range of sophisticated weapons", including surface-to-air missiles, which could be used to attack planes.

Pilots who are forced to fly over Iraq because of an emergency must explain why they took the route they did within 10 days.

:: Libya

All US aircraft are banned from the area of airspace known as the Tripoli Flight Information Region (FIR), which covers Libya, as well as sections of Niger and Chad, unless the pilot has been given special permission.

The Federal Aviation Authority has "safety and national security concerns" regarding flights in the area and warns airports may be damaged and navigation systems unavailable.

It also says the "proliferation of air defence weapons ... and the presence of military operations, including aerial bombardments and unplanned flights" pose a potential hazard.

Pilots who are forced to fly through the Tripoli FIR because of an emergency must tell the FAA why they took the route they did.

:: Ethiopia

All US aircraft are banned from flying over Ethiopia and the region of airspace immediately to the north, unless the pilot has been given special permission.

Aircraft which cross into Ethiopian airspace while taking off or landing at Mandera, Kenya, "may be fired upon by Ethiopian forces", according to the Federal Aviation Authority.

"Operators considering flights to northeastern Kenya should familiarise themselves with the current situation," it adds.

Pilots who are forced to fly over Ethiopia because of an emergency must explain why they took the route they did within 10 days.

:: Somalia

All US aircraft must fly at a height of 18,000ft (5,486m) or above over Somalia, unless the pilot has been given special permission from the Federal Aviation Authority.

Flights above 18,000ft are allowed only with the permission of Somali authorities.

Pilots who are forced to fly over Somalia because of an emergency must explain why they took the route they did within 10 days.

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EU Sanctions Target Russian Oil Industry

European governments have agreed new sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, targeting its oil and defence industries.

Moscow's sensitive technologies and dual-use goods are also being targeted as part of the fresh action which will be reviewed after three months, a diplomat said.

The capitals of all 28 nations will now look at and rubber-stamp what has been agreed.

The move is seen as an extension of existing US and EU sanctions and will focus on 11 individuals and other "entities" - the so-called 'cronies' of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It also comes after the other leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) warned in a statement earlier this week that they were prepared to move to broader sanctions on Russia, including "sectoral measures".

Sky's Europe Correspondent Robert Nisbet said eight of the people to be added to the list by the EU were expected to be much closer to the inner-circle of Mr Putin to "hit right at the centre of the Russian government".

He added: "What you may notice is not in the list is the finance sector which is obviously something that people have been pushing for - trying to restrict state-owned Russian banks from seeking extra capital from within the EU."

Moments after the announcement, US Secretary John Kerry said the US "was in the process of preparing additional sanctions".

He said Mr Putin still "had a choice going forward, with respect to his ability to be able to have an impact on the separatists".

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Killer Joyrider Lindo Jailed Again After Chase

A man who ran over and killed an eight-year-old boy in 2006 is back behind bars after racing through a residential area in a police chase.

Ashley Lindo reached up to 60mph as he drove along paths, blew out two tyres and pulled a handbrake turn.

The 24-year-old was jailed for 18 months at Teeside Crown Court after admitting dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

The court heard how Lindo pretended to stop for police in Middlesbrough but then sped off when an officer got out to speak to him.

The pursuit took place at 6.30pm on April 12 this year.

Prosecutor Sue Jacobs said he drove the Skoda Octavia up kerbs and between bollards and on a footpath behind a school.

When police blocked his path he mounted a kerb and blew out two tyres.

He was finally forced to ditch the car after they went completely flat, about a mile after the chase began. He ran off but was arrested soon after.

Lindo served half of a three-year sentence in a young offenders' institution after he knocked down Daniel Conroy Curtin in a stolen Rover Metro in May 2006.

The prosecution in the latest case said: "It is clearly aggravated by his previous convictions, the time of day and the locations, as it involved residential streets in central Middlesbrough."

The court also heard that Lindo had 11 convictions for 22 offences, including another dangerous driving offence three years after he killed the little boy.

Lindo's defence lawyer, Gary Wood, said his client had "panicked" and added that his outlook on life had changed "dramatically" since becoming a father six weeks ago.

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MH17 Black Boxes: Plane 'Hit By Shrapnel'

Black box data from the downed Malaysia Airlines plane reveals the jet crashed due to a "massive explosive decompression" after being hit by shrapnel from a missile, claims a Ukrainian security official.

Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine's Security Council, said the information came from experts analysing the flight recorders from MH17, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine killing all 298 people on board.

Air accident experts in Farnborough, Hampshire, had been tasked with downloading the data from the two black boxes and passing the information on to international investigators.

Dutch and Australian police have again been forced back from the crash site

Western countries blame rebels for shooting down the airliner with a missile, mistaking it for a Ukrainian plane, but the separatists deny any involvement.

Meanwhile, a team of Dutch and Australian police making a fresh attempt to reach the crash site were again forced to turn back after "explosions" in the area.

A previous attempt had also been halted by fierce fighting.

Ukraine rebels say they have lost control over part of the MH17 crash site in the face of a push by government forces.

Australia's Deputy Commissioner of National Security Andrew Colvin said evidence risked being lost amid the continuing clashes, and the chances of finding the remains of all the dead grew slimmer as time went on.

The UN's Navi Pillay is demanding a full inquiry into the plane attack

The claims about data from the flight recorders came as the UN said the shooting down of the airliner may amount to a war crime.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay condemned the "horrendous shooting down" of flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, and demanded a "thorough, effective, independent and impartial investigation".

She said in a statement: "This violation of international law, given the prevailing circumstances, may amount to a war crime.

Some 100,000 people have fled the violence in eastern Ukraine, says the UN

"Every effort will be made to ensure that anyone committing serious violations of international law including war crimes will be brought to justice, no matter who they are."

Plans have been unveiled to stage a special memorial concert for victims of MH17 in Amsterdam this September.

The Prime Minister David Cameron is due to meet families of British victims at Downing Street on Tuesday.

The UN also said latest figures showed more than 1,100 people had been killed and nearly 3,500 wounded in fighting in eastern Ukraine since April, with both sides using heavy weapons in built-up areas, including artillery, tanks, rockets and missiles.

"Both sides must take great care to prevent more civilians from being killed or injured," Ms Pillay said.

Casualty numbers are rising with the use of heavy weapons in built-up areas

A further 100,000 people have fled the violence.

The UN report also accused the rebels of conducting a brutal "reign of intimidation and terror" in the areas they controlled, including the abduction, torture and killing of civilians.

The US has released satellite images it claims show rockets have been fired at Ukraine from within Russia.

The images, which come from the US Director of National Intelligence and have not been independently verified, also purport to show that heavy artillery for pro-Russian separatists has crossed the border.

Their release appears to be a part of Barack Obama's push to hold Russia accountable for its activities in Ukraine - and persuade European allies to apply harsher sanctions on Moscow.

Moscow has denied allegations of involvement in eastern Ukraine, claiming the US is conducting "an unrelenting campaign of slander against Russia, ever more relying on open lies".

The French presidency later said it would take further measures against Moscow - along with Britain, the US, Germany and Italy - over the situation in Ukraine.

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Full UK Battle Group To Join Poland Exercise

A "full battle group" of 1,350 personnel is to be sent to Poland for a Nato exercise to reassure Eastern European allies in the face of Russia's conflict with Ukraine.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon confirmed the deployment and said more than 350 armoured and other vehicles would take part.

Exercise Black Eagle will be held in October and is part of a series of Nato exercises designed to support allies in Eastern Europe and the Baltics.

Next month, light infantry troops from 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment will also join Exercise Sabre Junction, a US-led exercise - again taking place in Poland - and involving 16 countries.

Four Eurofighter Typhoons from the RAF are helping police Baltic airspace

Four RAF Eurofighter Typhoon jets have been at Nato's Baltic Air Policing mission, based at Lithuania's Siauliai Air Base, since Russia annexed the Crimean region of Ukraine earlier this year.

Normally the mission involves just four aircraft, but since the crisis in Ukraine it has been boosted to 12, including four Lockheed Martin F-16 jets from Denmark and four MiG-29 planes from Poland.

Mr Fallon announced details of the latest exercise during a visit to the Polish capital Warsaw with Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

Michael Fallon was recently appointed as Defence Secretary

He said: "It is right that Nato members and partners demonstrate our commitment to the collective security of our allies in Eastern Europe, so I am pleased to confirm our participation in these exercises.

"In particular, the commitment of a battle group to Exercise Black Eagle shows our sustained and substantial support to Nato's eastern border."

A Nato summit in Wales in September is also being held to discuss ways to respond to future threats and reassurance measures.

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Israel Blames Hamas For Gaza Hospital Strike

Israel has accused Hamas of misfiring two rockets - one of which struck Gaza's main hospital and the other a refugee camp, killing seven children.

Palestinian police and medics had earlier suggested Israeli missiles for the strikes on Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, causing casualties, and a nearby park in Al-Shati refugee camp.

A Palestinian official said at least 10 people in total were killed in the strike on a playground in the camp park, and a further 46 injured.

However, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) denied responsibility for the attacks and said it was not operating in the area.

An Israeli tank on the border with Gaza, earlier today during the ceasefire

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli army spokesman, said. "This incident was carried out by Gaza terrorists whose rockets fell short and hit the Shifa Hospital and the Beach (Shati) camp," he said.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) also tweeted: "Since the beginning of the operation #IDF has documented approximately 200 rockets & mortars that landed short within #Gaza."

Israeli media also reported four people had been killed in Gaza mortar strikes on southern Israel.

The explosions came less than an hour after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon likened the conflict to a "manmade hurricane", saying "whole neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble".

He demanded an end to the violence "in the name of humanity" and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal of being irresponsible and "morally wrong" for putting their own people at risk of being killed.

The Secretary-General called on them to demonstrate "political will" and compassionate leadership" to end the suffering.

He said Gaza was in a "critical condition" following Israeli strikes resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestian civilians, which he said raised "serious questions about proportionality".

Attacks resumed ending a brief lull in fighting at the start of a major Muslim holiday.

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