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The resolution passed despite the United States abstention
Friday 9 January 2009
The United Nations Security Council has agreed a resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
There had been three days of negotiations between Arab and Western powers in New York leading up to the Security Council vote.
In the end, the resolution was adopted with only the US abstaining.
The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, spoke in the chamber shortly after the vote.
Listen Listen to Mr Ban (58 secs)
The US Secretary of State is Condoleezza Rice explained why her country abstained:
Listen Listen to Condoleezza Rice (35 secs)
It is by no means clear if the UN resolution will have any effect on either Israel or Hamas.
Yahya Mahmassani is the Arab League representative at the UN.
Listen Listen to Yahya Mahmassani (14 secs)
The Israeli ambassador to the UN is Gabriela Shalev.
Listen Listen to Gabriela Shalev (21 secs)
Meanwhile the fighting on the ground is continuing.
The Israeli air force say they attacked more than fifty targets overnight and there have also been more rockets fired out of Gaza into southern Israel.
Palestinian medical officials say tanks have shelled a house in Beit Lahiya in the north of the Gaza Strip, killing six Palestinians from the same family.
Amjad Shawa is coordinator of 130 aid groups in Gaza:
Listen Listen to Amjad Shawa (3 mins 11 secs)
End of Section
Many Palestinians rely on UN aid
Thursday 8 January 2009
The United Nations says it is suspending all aid deliveries in the Gaza Strip after a UN convoy was hit by a tank shell, killing two people.
UNWRA spokesman Chris Gunness said aid shipments would stop until the safety of UN staff could be guaranteed:
Listen Listen to Chris Gunness (31 secs)
The Israeli military said it was investigating.
The Red Cross has accused Israel of failing to fulfil its obligation to help wounded civilians in Gaza.
ICRC staff found four weak and scared children beside their mothers' bodies in houses hit by shelling in Zeitoun.
Yad Nasr is a spokesman for the ICRC inside Gaza City:
Listen Listen to Yad Nasr (2 mins 26 secs)
Mark Regev speaks for the Israeli government.
Newshour asked for his response to these allegations that the Israeli military prevented the Red Cross from reaching those children for four days?
Listen Listen to Mark Regev (2 mins 11 secs)
Earlier the Lebanese government has condemned the firing of rockets from southern Lebanon into northern Israel.
A Lebanese government minister said the Shiite group Hezbollah had denied carrying out the attack. It was the first rocket attack against northern Israel since the Israeli offensive in Gaza began nearly two weeks ago.
A spokesperson for the Israeli police in northern Israel, Mickey Rosenvelt, told The World Today that the possibility of attacks from Lebanon had been foreseen:
Listen Listen to Mickey Rosenvelt (24 secs)
Omar Sha'ban, an economist in Gaza, describes how his life has changed since the end of the ceasefire.
Listen Listen to Omar Sha'ban (1 min 30 secs)
Liza Rosenberg is an Israeli woman who writes a blog called "Something Something"
Listen Listen to Liza Rosenberg (1 min 52 secs)
End of Section
Wednesday 7 January 2009
Forty people were killed in an attack on a school on Tuesday
Israel has resumed attacks on the Gaza Strip following a three hour suspension to allow humanitarian relief for civilians.
The BBC's Tim Franks sent this report at 1715GMT:
Listen Listen to Tim Franks (2 mins 26 secs)
Earlier on Wednesday, Dan Damon spoke to Ron Prosor, the Israeli Ambassador to the UK:
Listen Listen to Ron Prosor (4 mins 18 secs)
Ghazi Hamad is spokesman for Hamas in Gaza:
Listen Listen to Ghazi Hamad (3 mins 38 secs)
What is it like to observe this conflict as an ordinary Israeli citizen?
Liza Rosenberg is an Israeli writer who produces a blog called "Something Something"
Listen Listen to Liza Rosenberg (2 mins 19 secs)
Sami Abdel Shafi is a business consultant in Gaza. Can he understand Liza Rosenberg's frustrations?
Listen Listen to Sami Abdel Shafi (2 mins 22 secs)
End of Section
Tuesday 6 January 2009
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)
End of Section
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
