ISRAEL

On Tuesday Israeli troops advanced into the densely populated Gaza suburbs for the first time leaving residents terrified as they ran for cover. Soldiers are searching alleyways and cellars to find Hamas fighters.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said he's embarking on a Mideast tour to press for Israel and Hamas to immediately stop fighting and allow humanitarian aid into the devastated Palestinian territory.

Israeli troops advanced into densely populated suburbs of Gaza early Tuesday; just hours after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned Islamic militants of an iron fist unless they agree to Israel's terms to end the fighting.

Madonna has beefed up her security with two ex-Mossad bodyguards after being targeted by Muslim fanatics seeking revenge for Israel's attacks on Gaza.

On Monday Israel's ambassador to Cairo apologized for an Israeli air strike that wounded five Egyptians near the border on Sunday.

Israeli warplanes moving deeper into the residential areas have pounded the homes of Hamas leaders.

On Sunday Human Rights Watch said that Israel's military are using the incendiary agent white phosphorus in their fired artillery shells.

The conflict between Israel and Gaza continues entering its 16th day and neither side is willing to respond to international calls for an immediate cease fire.

A top leader of Palestinian paramilitary group Hamas said Saturday the war in Gaza has killed the last chance for settlement and negotiations with Israel.

An estimated 50,000 people in Alexandria, Egypt and thousands in more than a dozen Middle Eastern cities have taken to the streets protesting against Israel.

Airstrikes and rockets continue to be fired as both Israel and Hamas reject the U.N. call for an immediate cease fire.

Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas continued to fight for a second week in the Gaza Strip on Friday despite a call by the U.N. Security Council resolution to stop. The Israeli air force bombarded Gaza while Hamas attacked with rockets.

All aid delivery of food and fuel by the UN 1.5 million people in the embattled Gaza strip has been suspended.

Lebanese militants fired at least three rockets into Israel early Thursday as the Israeli air force intensified its operations in the Gaza Strip. The rockets exploded near the city of Nahariya wounding two people, Israeli police and emergency medical services said.

On Wednesday Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza bombing heavily around suspected smuggling tunnels near the border with Egypt after a three-hour stop to allow in humanitarian aid.

After a brief pause allowing food and fuel into Gaza, Israeli airstrikes and Hamas rockets resumed.

Israel suspended its offensive in Gaza for three hours on Wednesday to allow food and other aid reach to Palestinians.

Israeli troops and tanks split the Gaza Strip and ringed its main city on Sunday in an offensive against Hamas militants but civilians trapped in the Palestinian enclave suffered more bloodshed.

GAZA - Israeli artillery shelled the Gaza Strip on Saturday, stepping up the offensive against Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave as tanks and troops waited on the border for a possible ground offensive.

Israel's week-old offensive in the Gaza Strip is a violent sequel to a drive led by the US

GAZA - Hamas's top leader warned Israel its army would be defeated if it invaded the Gaza Strip, while the United States said it envisioned a ceasefire with international monitoring that would ensure the Islamist group could not rearm.