01/10/09

* Gaza conflict enters third week Israel has continued to pound Gaza a week after sending in ground troops, despite the UN voicing disappointment ceasefire calls had not been heeded.

* IDF: Hamas showing signs of exhaustion; army steps up Gaza offensive A senior Israeli military commander involved in Operation Cast Lead said on Saturday that Hamas militants are suffering from exhaustion.

* Senior Hamas operative killed while trying to attack troops IDF troops in the Gaza Strip on Saturday targeted Hamas operative Amir Mansi.

* IDF: Whole Hamas battalions wiped out A senior IDF officer estimated Saturday that roughly 300 Hamas men have been killed since the army launched its ground incursion in the Gaza Strip.

* Hamas rocket team leader killed, Israel says The Hamas commander in charge of launching rockets into Israel from the Gaza City area was killed Saturday by Israeli ground fire.

* Iran: Egypt partner to Gaza crimes Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Egypt on Saturday to clarify whether it is a "partner" with Israel in efforts to break Hamas resistance in the Gaza Strip.

* 'UN drafting Gaza plan to reinstate PA' A day after a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire was dismissed by both Israel and the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip, a new plan was being hatched.

* Abbas: Israel must accept truce initiative Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip were underway in Cairo Saturday.

* Rice: Civilian casualties hard to avoid The United States on Friday expressed concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

* Abbas: Israel responsible for 'waterfall of blood' if it rejects Gaza truce Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said all parties would be responsible for continued fighting in Gaza if they did not accept an Egypt-brokered truce.