Israeli warplanes hit Haneya's office in Gaza

GAZA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Israeli aircrafts struck the office of deposed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya in western Gaza City before dawn on Sunday, residents in the city said.

Israeli aircrafts hovered over the western area of Gaza City and fired two air-to-ground missiles at Haneya's office, the witnesses said.

The strike caused huge explosions, leaving dozens of people, mainly women and children, in panic, they added.

Severe destruction was caused to the three-floor building near the Beach Refugee camp, but no injuries were reported, the witnesses said.

Israel has been targeting buildings belonging to Islamic Hamas movement and militants who launch homemade rockets from Gaza at Israel.

Palestinian medics in Gaza said that 63 Palestinians were killed on Saturday.

Palestinian witnesses said that Israeli aircrafts targeted three militants in northern Gaza Strip, adding that one was killedand two wounded.

In southern Gaza Strip, Hamas-police sources said that Israeli aircrafts targeted two houses in southern Gaza Strip towns of Rafah and Kahn Younis. The two houses were damaged, no injuries were reported.

Mo'aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency and ambulance services in the ministry of health, said 96 Palestinians were killed and 300 wounded in an unprecedented Israeli offensive on Hamas and on the Gaza Strip since Wednesday.

GAZA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army killed 68 Palestinians and wounded 200 others on Saturday in a daylong large-scale military ground operation into northern Gaza Strip, hospital officials said.

Mo'aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency and ambulance services in the Palestinian health ministry told reporters that the Israeli army on Saturday killed 68 Palestinians and wounded 200 others, many in serious condition. Full story

UNITED NATIONS, March 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council started an emergency meeting early Saturday evening to discuss the latest Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip.

The meeting was called at the request of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, diplomats said. Full story

JERUSALEM, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Saturday that the peace talks with Palestinians must continue despite the escalating tension in Gaza, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. Full story

JERUSALEM, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak vowed on Saturday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)'s operation in Gaza must continue, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. Full story

JERUSALEM, March 1 (Xinhua) -- A spokeswoman of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed to Xinhua on Saturday that two IDF soldiers were killed during a military operation in northern Gaza Strip. Full story

RAMALLAH, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held urgent contacts with world leaders to put an end to the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, a spokesman said on Saturday.

Abbas' contacts aimed to push for holding urgent meetings in the Arab League and the UN Security Council, said the spokesman Nabil Abu Rdineh.