Tuesday 6 January 2009
After eleven days of bombing and four days of ground fighting in Gaza, Israel shows no sign of halting its offensive.

An Israeli Air Force attack helicopter launches a missile
The Palestinians say some 600 people have been killed since Israel began its military campaign.
The number of Israelis killed is eight, three of them victims of fire from one of their own tanks.
The United Nations says many Palestinians were killed when Israeli shells fell near a UN school in the Gaza Strip.
Laura Trevelyan is the BBC's UN correspondent:
Listen Listen to Laura Trevelyan (1 min 20 secs)
Nahum Barnea is one of Israel's most distinguished journalists and on Monday, an article he wrote questioned at what point the operation in Gaza should end?
The BBC's Roger Hearing asked him how united the group of three leading politicians organising the Gaza operation was: foreign minister Tzipi Livni; Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert?
Listen Listen to Nahum Barnea (4 mins 5 secs)
Tony Blair took up the role of Middle East representative for the International Quartet of the US, EU, UN and Russia to the Middle East last year.
Yesterday he met the Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni.
The BBC's Ed Stourton asked him whether, in private, Ms Livni had been more positive about the prospects of a ceasefire?
Listen Listen to Tony Blair (10 mins 16 secs)
Colonel Lior Lotan is an Israeli counter terrorism expert who served in the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza in the 1980s and 1990s.
The BBC's Roger Hearing asked him if he thought Israel was achieving its aims?
Listen Listen to Colonel Lotan (2 mins 42 secs)
What is the American diplomatic stance?
Robert Malley is Middle East director of International Crisis Group in Washington and he spoke to the BBC's Madeleine Morris:
Listen Listen to Robert Malley (3 mins 36 secs)
Monday 5 January 2009
Muhamad Abushaban lives with his family in Gaza City.
He told the World Today's Julian Keane what the past few days had been like:
Listen Listen to Muhamad Abushaban (3 mins 25 secs)
How long is this Israeli ground offensive likely to go on?
Jeremy Issacarof is Israel's Deputy Ambassador at the United Nations:
Listen Listen to Jeremy Issacarof (2 mins 18 secs)
What are Israel's specific military objectives in Gaza?
General Shlomo Brom is former chief of strategic planning with the Israeli Defence Forces.
Listen Listen to Gen. Shlomo Brom (5 mins 57 secs)
Israel says its aim is to stop Hamas firing rockets into Israel.
Newshour's Robin Lustig asked a senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, under what circumstances would Hamas agree to stop firing rockets?
Listen Listen to Osama Hamdan (3 mins 22 secs)
First broadcast on 5 January 2009

