Ebola: Games Athletes Afraid To Return Home

Many members of Sierra Leone's Commonwealth Games team are afraid to return home because of the outbreak of ebola, it has been reported.

A team representative told The Times newspaper the athletes fear they may not be safe if they go back to their country where a national emergency has been declared.

More than 220 people have died in Sierra Leone after contracting the disease - more than any other country.

Unisa Deen Kargbo, the team's chef de mission, told The Times: "Many people are thinking whether or not to go home now.

"Everybody is worried and many of them don't want to go home now because of the ebola.

Medecin Sans Frontieres medics have been treating victims in Sierra Leone

"We have held several meetings with them, but they are still worried. This virus is spreading around our country and everyone is at risk of catching it.

"The problem is, if they want to stay on after the Commonwealth Games end, who will take care of them?

"They will have no accommodation, no work. How do they meet their needs? How will they get themselves employed?"

It was reported in the Daily Telegraph that one of Sierra Leone's athletes, Mohamed Tholley, had failed to turn up to a time trial event he had been due to take part in.

Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol are being flown to the US for treatment

Strathclyde Police told Sky News that Mr Tholley had not been reported missing, but there was said to be confusion over his whereabouts.

Sierra Leone cyclist Moses Sesay, 32, was tested for ebola last week after he was admitted to a Glasgow hospital feeling unwell.

At least 729 people are said to have died as a result of the ebola outbreak in the four African countries worst affected.

Two American aid workers seriously ill with the virus are being transferred from west Africa to the United States for treatment.

They will be the first cases of ebola to be treated on US soil and will be treated in one of the most tightly sealed isolation units in the country.

The Americans will be flown home in a specially adapted private jet

One was due to arrive on Saturday and the second will arrive a few days later. Both are in a "stable but grave condition".

The two Americans - Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol - worked for US missionary groups in Liberia at a hospital that treated Ebola patients.

The World Health Organisation's director-general warned on Friday that the ebola outbreak, which has killed at least 729 people, is out of control but can be stopped.

Margaret Chan told the presidents of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - the worst affected nations - that the consequences could be "catastrophic" if the situation continued to deteriorate.

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Pistorius' Brother Critical After Head On Crash

The brother of bladerunner Oscar Pistorius is in a critical condition after a head on collision in South Africa.

Carl Pistorius, who has regularly been seen in court during his brother's murder trial, was in a head on collision on the N1 near Modimolle in Limpopo.

It is understood that a car swerved out in front of him colliding with his vehicle. Mr Pistorius is believed to have suffered numerous fractures.

A Pistorius family spokesperson, Anneleise Burgess, said he was in a critical condition, but was "out of danger".

Burgess said he was returning from a business trip from Polokwane and travelling in a convoy with a business partner on the N1 to Pretoria.

Traffic had backed up on the opposite side of the road, when, without warning, a vehicle pulled out in front of Mr Pistorius, Burgess said.

She said he was transported to a Pretoria hospital late last night.

In 2008 Carl was involved in a collision with a motorcyclist who died and was later acquitted of culpable homicide.

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Death Toll Surges As Israel Hunts For Soldier

Why Obama's Hands Are Tied Over Gaza

Updated: 4:38am UK, Friday 01 August 2014

By Dominic Waghorn, US Correspondent

On the day the White House said the Israeli military should do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the US confirmed it had agreed to supply the same military with more ammunition.

The Obama administration has hardened its criticism of the shelling of a UN school in Gaza calling it "indefensible" and saying there is little doubt the Israelis were responsible.

"We need our allies in Israel," said administration press secretary Josh Earnest "to live up to the high standards they have set themselves". Meanwhile those same allies were being invited to help themselves to more of the US arms stockpiles in Israel.

Duplicitous double standards or another sign of the complexity of US-Israeli relations? Depends on your point of view.

There is no doubt the Obama administration is concerned and frustrated by Israel's conduct. There is also no doubt the administration will continue to support it to the hilt for as long as required.

Frustrated not least because of the trashing of the US Secretary of State John Kerry by Israeli cabinet ministers and media after his efforts to broker a ceasefire.

The Obama administration has not hidden its fury at the personal attacks on America's chief diplomat by senior members of the Netanyahu government.

The mounting civilian suffering is a concern to the US, for humanitarian and diplomatic reasons.

What's left of America's standing in the Arab world is further undermined by gruesome pictures of slaughter caused by US-supplied weaponry being fired into Gaza.  

A lot has been made of the dysfunctional relationship of the two countries' leaders. 

Bibi and Barack have had more than their share of differences, and none of the political intimacy of George W Bush and Ariel Sharon. 

But these days Israel can take US support for granted far more than it could back then.

When Ariel Sharon wanted to send his military into Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank in 2002 he personally asked Bush to let him do so and give him enough time to finish the job.

The destruction in Jenin is nothing compared to what Israel has wrought in Gaza and it has done so without needing to ask for American permission. 

There are many reasons for US support for Israel, some historic, others more current.

The US-Israeli relationship is one of the fundamental constants of American foreign policy in the Middle East. With a region in ferment and in a state of flux, that is more important to Washington than ever.

The Israeli lobby is also hugely powerful in the US. 

Capitol Hill has been called Israeli-occupied territory; such is the sway the Jewish state holds over US politicians.

Multifarious pro-Israel organisations, millions given to Israel supporters at election time and masterful use of the media all mean that is unlikely to change.

Israel has the same hold on everyday Americans as it has on politicians.

US public opinion has been overwhelmingly sympathetic to Israel since the second intifada when the Palestinians began blowing up women and children on buses and since 9/11, which hardened US attitudes to violent Muslims of any description.

More often than not the US media is inclined to accept the Israeli narrative. 

Coverage of tunnels out of Gaza is a case in point.

When Israeli military PR shifted the focus from rockets to tunnels, US coverage followed.

Too much talk of rockets is a threat to Israel economically now the country's main airport is within range.

Israel now claims Hamas tunnels are their main casus belli.

There has been little questioning of Israeli claims they are a terrorist threat to women and children, when thus far they have only been used by Hamas militants for military purposes to target Israeli soldiers. 

US support of Israel is mirrored by the attitude of some Arab nations in the region.

Egypt's recent ceasefire plan angered Hamas by including many of Israel's demands and few of the Palestinians'.

The Saudis and Jordanians are also quietly cheering the Jewish state from the sidelines. 

Since the last major Israeli operation in Gaza the faultlines have shifted in the Middle East because of the deepening chasm among Muslims, between Sunnis and Shia. 

On one side, Iran and its allies, the Assad regime in Damascus, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

On the other Tehran's enemies in the Gulf and Egypt who are in no mood to help out Iran's Sunni allies, Hamas in Gaza. 

While much of the Middle East remains silent as the carnage continues in Gaza, Israel will assume it is carrying out the wishes of at least some of its neighbours.

Washington will continue dishing out carefully worded criticism if Israel keeps facing claims it has shelled children sleeping in UN buildings.

But it is not going to be reducing its support for its closest ally in an increasingly troubled region.

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Why Obama's Hands Are Tied Over Gaza

On the day the White House said the Israeli military should do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the US confirmed it had agreed to supply the same military with more ammunition.

The Obama administration has hardened its criticism of the shelling of a UN school in Gaza calling it "indefensible" and saying there is little doubt the Israelis were responsible.

"We need our allies in Israel," said administration press secretary Josh Earnest "to live up to the high standards they have set themselves". Meanwhile those same allies were being invited to help themselves to more of the US arms stockpiles in Israel.

Duplicitous double standards or another sign of the complexity of US-Israeli relations? Depends on your point of view.

There is no doubt the Obama administration is concerned and frustrated by Israel's conduct. There is also no doubt the administration will continue to support it to the hilt for as long as required.

The US has agreed to supply Israel with more ammunition

Frustrated not least because of the trashing of the US Secretary of State John Kerry by Israeli cabinet ministers and media after his efforts to broker a ceasefire.

The Obama administration has not hidden its fury at the personal attacks on America's chief diplomat by senior members of the Netanyahu government.

The mounting civilian suffering is a concern to the US, for humanitarian and diplomatic reasons.

What's left of America's standing in the Arab world is further undermined by gruesome pictures of slaughter caused by US-supplied weaponry being fired into Gaza.  

A lot has been made of the dysfunctional relationship of the two countries' leaders. 

Mr Netanyahu's less-than-smooth relationship with Obama is well documented

Bibi and Barack have had more than their share of differences, and none of the political intimacy of George W Bush and Ariel Sharon. 

But these days Israel can take US support for granted far more than it could back then.

When Ariel Sharon wanted to send his military into Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank in 2002 he personally asked Bush to let him do so and give him enough time to finish the job.

The destruction in Jenin is nothing compared to what Israel has wrought in Gaza and it has done so without needing to ask for American permission. 

There are many reasons for US support for Israel, some historic, others more current.

Palestinians say more than 1,400 people have died in Gaza

The US-Israeli relationship is one of the fundamental constants of American foreign policy in the Middle East. With a region in ferment and in a state of flux, that is more important to Washington than ever.

The Israeli lobby is also hugely powerful in the US. 

Capitol Hill has been called Israeli-occupied territory; such is the sway the Jewish state holds over US politicians.

Multifarious pro-Israel organisations, millions given to Israel supporters at election time and masterful use of the media all mean that is unlikely to change.

Israel has the same hold on everyday Americans as it has on politicians.

US public opinion has been overwhelmingly sympathetic to Israel since the second intifada when the Palestinians began blowing up women and children on buses and since 9/11, which hardened US attitudes to violent Muslims of any description.

Fifty-six Israeli soldiers have died since the offensive began

More often than not the US media is inclined to accept the Israeli narrative. 

Coverage of tunnels out of Gaza is a case in point.

When Israeli military PR shifted the focus from rockets to tunnels, US coverage followed.

Too much talk of rockets is a threat to Israel economically now the country's main airport is within range.

Israel now claims Hamas tunnels are their main casus belli.

There has been little questioning of Israeli claims they are a terrorist threat to women and children, when thus far they have only been used by Hamas militants for military purposes to target Israeli soldiers. 

US support of Israel is mirrored by the attitude of some Arab nations in the region.

Egypt's recent ceasefire plan angered Hamas by including many of Israel's demands and few of the Palestinians'.

The Saudis and Jordanians are also quietly cheering the Jewish state from the sidelines. 

Since the last major Israeli operation in Gaza the faultlines have shifted in the Middle East because of the deepening chasm among Muslims, between Sunnis and Shia. 

On one side, Iran and its allies, the Assad regime in Damascus, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

On the other Tehran's enemies in the Gulf and Egypt who are in no mood to help out Iran's Sunni allies, Hamas in Gaza. 

While much of the Middle East remains silent as the carnage continues in Gaza, Israel will assume it is carrying out the wishes of at least some of its neighbours.

Washington will continue dishing out carefully worded criticism if Israel keeps facing claims it has shelled children sleeping in UN buildings.

But it is not going to be reducing its support for its closest ally in an increasingly troubled region.

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Mystery Gas Blasts Tear Up Streets In Taiwan

A series of underground gas blasts in Taiwan's southern city of Kaohsiung has killed 25 people and injured 267 others.

The explosions sparked a huge fire that tore through the city's Chian-Chen district and were powerful enough to upturn cars and split open paved roads. 

One of the blasts left a large trench running down the centre of a road, edged with piles of concrete slabs.

Residents said the blasts felt like a powerful earthquake.

The force of the explosions overturned fire engines and destroyed roads

Media reports suggest the number of dead is likely to rise sharply.

President Ma Ying-jeou promised measures to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.

"The explosions were like thunder and the road in front of my shop ripped open. It felt like an earthquake," Taiwan's Central News Agency quoted an eyewitness as saying.

"I saw fire soaring up to possibly 20 storeys high after a blast, and fire engines and cars being blown away while around 10 bodies lay on the street," another witness said.

The explosions hit Kaohsiung municipality late on Thursday night

The National Fire Agency said four firefighters, who were at the scene investigating gas leaks at the time of the explosions, were among those killed. 

It said the local fire department received calls of gas leaks late on Thursday and then there was a series of blasts around midnight affecting "an area of two to three square kilometres".

They were believed to have been caused by a leak of propene, a petrochemical material not intended for public use, but the source of the gas was not immediately clear, officials said.

Rescue workers at the scene of the disaster

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu said several petrochemical companies have pipelines built along the sewage system in the area.

Xinhua news agency described smoke with a "gas-like smell" seen coming out of drains in the streets before the explosions.

Officials urged people to stay out of the district and people were using schools to take shelter.

Power was also cut off in some areas, making it difficult for rescuers to search for people who might be buried in rubble.

The explosions came just a week after a TransAsia Airways plane crashed in Taiwan during bad weather, killing 48 people.

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Israeli Soldier May Have Been Kidnapped In Gaza

Why Obama's Hands Are Tied Over Gaza

Updated: 4:38am UK, Friday 01 August 2014

By Dominic Waghorn, US Correspondent

On the day the White House said the Israeli military should do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the US confirmed it had agreed to supply the same military with more ammunition.

The Obama administration has hardened its criticism of the shelling of a UN school in Gaza calling it "indefensible" and saying there is little doubt the Israelis were responsible.

"We need our allies in Israel," said administration press secretary Josh Earnest "to live up to the high standards they have set themselves". Meanwhile those same allies were being invited to help themselves to more of the US arms stockpiles in Israel.

Duplicitous double standards or another sign of the complexity of US-Israeli relations? Depends on your point of view.

There is no doubt the Obama administration is concerned and frustrated by Israel's conduct. There is also no doubt the administration will continue to support it to the hilt for as long as required.

Frustrated not least because of the trashing of the US Secretary of State John Kerry by Israeli cabinet ministers and media after his efforts to broker a ceasefire.

The Obama administration has not hidden its fury at the personal attacks on America's chief diplomat by senior members of the Netanyahu government.

The mounting civilian suffering is a concern to the US, for humanitarian and diplomatic reasons.

What's left of America's standing in the Arab world is further undermined by gruesome pictures of slaughter caused by US-supplied weaponry being fired into Gaza.  

A lot has been made of the dysfunctional relationship of the two countries' leaders. 

Bibi and Barack have had more than their share of differences, and none of the political intimacy of George W Bush and Ariel Sharon. 

But these days Israel can take US support for granted far more than it could back then.

When Ariel Sharon wanted to send his military into Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank in 2002 he personally asked Bush to let him do so and give him enough time to finish the job.

The destruction in Jenin is nothing compared to what Israel has wrought in Gaza and it has done so without needing to ask for American permission. 

There are many reasons for US support for Israel, some historic, others more current.

The US-Israeli relationship is one of the fundamental constants of American foreign policy in the Middle East. With a region in ferment and in a state of flux, that is more important to Washington than ever.

The Israeli lobby is also hugely powerful in the US. 

Capitol Hill has been called Israeli-occupied territory; such is the sway the Jewish state holds over US politicians.

Multifarious pro-Israel organisations, millions given to Israel supporters at election time and masterful use of the media all mean that is unlikely to change.

Israel has the same hold on everyday Americans as it has on politicians.

US public opinion has been overwhelmingly sympathetic to Israel since the second intifada when the Palestinians began blowing up women and children on buses and since 9/11, which hardened US attitudes to violent Muslims of any description.

More often than not the US media is inclined to accept the Israeli narrative. 

Coverage of tunnels out of Gaza is a case in point.

When Israeli military PR shifted the focus from rockets to tunnels, US coverage followed.

Too much talk of rockets is a threat to Israel economically now the country's main airport is within range.

Israel now claims Hamas tunnels are their main casus belli.

There has been little questioning of Israeli claims they are a terrorist threat to women and children, when thus far they have only been used by Hamas militants for military purposes to target Israeli soldiers. 

US support of Israel is mirrored by the attitude of some Arab nations in the region.

Egypt's recent ceasefire plan angered Hamas by including many of Israel's demands and few of the Palestinians'.

The Saudis and Jordanians are also quietly cheering the Jewish state from the sidelines. 

Since the last major Israeli operation in Gaza the faultlines have shifted in the Middle East because of the deepening chasm among Muslims, between Sunnis and Shia. 

On one side, Iran and its allies, the Assad regime in Damascus, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

On the other Tehran's enemies in the Gulf and Egypt who are in no mood to help out Iran's Sunni allies, Hamas in Gaza. 

While much of the Middle East remains silent as the carnage continues in Gaza, Israel will assume it is carrying out the wishes of at least some of its neighbours.

Washington will continue dishing out carefully worded criticism if Israel keeps facing claims it has shelled children sleeping in UN buildings.

But it is not going to be reducing its support for its closest ally in an increasingly troubled region.

18.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

UK Border Staff 'Unprepared' For Ebola

Border, customs and immigration staff feel unprepared to deal with people arriving in Britain who may be carrying the deadly ebola virus, a union leader has warned.

The virus - which has no vaccine and a fatality rate of up to 90% - has now killed nearly 700 people in West Africa, and it is feared it could be spread around the world by infected air passengers.

Public Health England has warned health officials to be on the lookout for any unexplained illness in people returning from affected countries.

But Immigration Service Union general secretary Lucy Moreton said members are "very concerned" about their personal safety and are not sure what to do if they think someone is infected.

"They serve on the front line; they are the first point of contact usually for people coming off an aircraft and the concern is what do they do if they're confronted with someone that doesn't appear well who appears at the border," she told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme.

"There is no health facility at the border, there is no containment facility and until extremely recently there has been no guidance issued to staff at all as to what they should do."

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) staff at an isolation area in Kailahun

Ms Moreton said members had been contacting the union for guidance on what to do and how to protect themselves, but it had no answers for them.

There have been concerns the disease could spread to the UK after it emerged two people have been assessed for the virus in Britain.

A man was given the all-clear following tests in Birmingham after he travelled from Benin in Nigeria, while doctors ruled out the need for an ebola test on a second male in west London.

The Government's emergencies committee Cobra met to discuss the situation on Wednesday.

Afterwards, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said it is "most unlikely" the disease could spread in the UK.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Border Force has a well-established plan to deal with different scenarios including infectious diseases and we work closely with partners like NHS England to minimise any affect on passengers and staff."

A story about Liberian diplomat Patrick Sawyer who died from ebola in Lagos

Meanwhile, two US volunteers have been placed in isolation amid fears they could have contracted the virus in West Africa.

The pair - working for America's Peace Corps movement  - have not displayed symptoms but are under observation after coming into contact with an Ebola sufferer, who later died.

The Peace Corps said it was evacuating 340 volunteers from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, the three countries worst affected in the outbreak.

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Ebola Crisis: Your Questions Answered Live

Follow Alex Crawford's questions and answers live. Refresh page for updates.

Andy: Those poor people must be so frightening for them.

Alex Crawford: Very scary and those in the epicentre are terrified. They distrust modern medicine and fear isolation tents are a death sentence.

Steve Onyeocha: I suppose this is global issue and should be treated with more care as it is not just West African problem.

Alex Crawford: Agree wholeheartedly.

Alan Knight: I saw you at Mamba Point. I should have realised if you are in town its time to get out.

Alex Crawford: Apologies for being bearer of bad news. Hopefully it enlightened some...

Andy: If ebola came to the UK, how long (in theory) before it would spread across the whole island?

Alex Crawford: It unlikely to spread as rapidly in rich Western countries with different cultural traditions.

Jo: This hospital where the ebola specialist himself died, how will it cope now without him?

Alex Crawford: He was a national hero. Tragic. But he worked in a team.

Steve Onyeocha: Is it true that ebola is in Nigeria now ? and how many victims has it made?

Alex Crawford: A victim travelled to and I believe died in Lagos. They're trying to trace all who came into contact with victim.

Pete: What checks are other African nations tackling to stop virus migrating across continent?

Alex Crawford: Not enough. Borders at the epicentre are very porous and largely open.

Matthew Vincent: How quickly is the ebola growing and what countries other than Africa are currently affected?

Alex Crawford: I believe there has been a case in Hong Kong but largely contained in African countries right now. Its spreading the fastest its ever done since first detected and the medics dealing with it feel overwhelmed.

Ringu: Will they stop flights coming in and out of those affected countries?

Alex Crawford: There do not appear to be any plans just yet and probably not required. But education and personnel ARE needed.

CC: I think it's so scary, can you imagine the problems this could cause?

Alex Crawford: It is already causing massive problems and fear in countries affected.

Adam Herbert: Simply put, should we worrying yet? What steps, if any, can we take to help?

Alex Crawford: I think if you are a member of the global village then worry definitely. These are the world's poorest.

Hardeytaryor Francis: Is there any way to cure this deadly disease?

Alex Crawford: At the moment, no.

Ajia Mammud Olayinka: What preventative measures can one take against this outbreak?

Alex Crawford: From my experience I would say education is key. Not enough known about it in key areas.

Jo: I would like to know what medical treatment patients receive (considering there's no cure)?

Alex Crawford: They are largely rehydrated and given antibiotics to add strength to fight virus.

Liam Boyall: Is Alex Crawford qualified in this area?

Alex Crawford: Only qualified in that have been to the epicentre.

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International Experts Reach MH17 Crash Site

International observers have reached the crash site of the downed Malaysia Airlines plane in eastern Ukraine.

It is the first time experts have been able to visit the scene in almost a week due to fierce fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels.

Police and forensic experts from the Netherlands and Australia are expected to initially focus their efforts on retrieving bodies still at the site and collecting victims' belongings.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's monitoring mission tweeted: "Monitors reach MH17 crash site for first time in almost week, accompanied by four Dutch, Australian experts. Used new route to access."

More follows...

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Cobra Meeting As UK Doctors Warned Over Ebola

The Government's emergency committee is to discuss how to tackle the "new and emerging" threat of ebola, as doctors in Britain are put on alert to spot symptoms of the deadly disease.

The outbreak is the largest in history, with the virus killing more than 670 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria since February.

Infection results from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids and tissues of infected animals or people.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has told Sky News no British nationals have been affected so far and there are no cases in the UK.

A person from Birmingham was tested for ebola after returning from Africa, but the tests came back negative.

The man was tested earlier this week after reportedly travelling from Benin in Nigeria via Paris to the Midlands.

Medical staff prepare to bring food to patients in an isolation area

Another man visited Charing Cross Hospital in west London after fearing he had the virus, but it was decided by doctors that he did not need an ebola test. 

Mr Hammond said Prime Minister David Cameron regarded the disease as a "very serious threat".

"We are very much focused on it as a new and emerging threat which we need to deal with," he said.

Dr Brian McCloskey, director of global health at Public Health England (PHE), said the risk to British travellers and workers was low, but doctors needed to be vigilant for "unexplained illnesses" in those who have returned from the affected countries.

Dr McCloskey said: "The continuing increase in cases, especially in Sierra Leone, and the importation of a single case from Liberia to Nigeria is a cause for concern as it indicates the outbreak is not yet under control."

Those who experience symptoms such as fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and a sore throat within three weeks of their return from such countries should "immediately seek medical assistance", Dr McCloskey said.

Countries affected by the ebola outbreak

The Government's chief scientific adviser, Sir Mark Walport, has told the Daily Telegraph that ebola was "potentially a major threat" to Britain due to the increasingly "interconnected" nature of the world.

British Airways, which flies to Sierra Leone and Nigeria, said in a statement it complies with guidance from local health authorities and will "continue to monitor the situation closely".

Cabin crew staff are advised to contact air traffic control if they see someone on board who they suspect could have the disease.

In 2012, a man with Crimea Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, which is related to ebola, was flown from Glasgow Airport to London by the RAF to be treated at the Royal Free Hospital in north London.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "We are well-prepared to identify and deal with any potential cases of ebola, though there has never been a case in this country.

"Any patients with suspected symptoms can be diagnosed within 24 hours and they would also be isolated at a dedicated unit to keep the public safe."

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Top Ebola Doctor Falls Victim To Deadly Virus

A doctor who was hailed as a national hero in Sierra Leone after risking his life to treat dozens of ebola patients has himself died from the disease.

Dr Sheik Humarr Khan had been hospitalised in quarantine but died on Tuesday, officials said.

Health workers are particularly vulnerable to ebola, which has killed more than 670 people since February.

International development organisation Plan International has said the outbreak is a "health crisis with global dimensions", while the European Union has increased its funding to fight the disease to 3.9m euros (£3 million)

Two Americans are currently being treated for the disease in Liberia, where all football activities have been stopped in a bid to halt the spread of the deadly virus.

Texan GP, Kent Brantly, who also contracted ebola while treating patients with the virus, is said to be in a grave condition in Monrovia and "terrified" he will not survive.

The family of Patrick Sawyer, Nigeria's first Ebola virus victim

A Canadian doctor has also put himself in quarantine in Liberia as a precaution after spending several weeks in the region treating ebola patients.

Azaria Marthyman of Victoria, British Columbia, was working with the Christian relief organisation Samaritan's Purse.

Samaritan's Purse and SIM USA have now decided to evacuate all non-essential personnel from Liberia as a result.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level Two travel alert, warning travellers to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to avoid contact with body fluids of people who might be affected.

The symptoms of the severe acute viral illness include sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and a sore throat.

Kent Brantly with his wife Amber and children

This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and internal and external bleeding. 

The major West African carrier, ASKY, has stopped its flights to Liberian capital Monrovia and Freetown, Sierra Leone, because of outbreak.

The airline's decision came after Patrick Sawyer, a 40-year-old American of Liberian descent, died of ebola in Nigeria after taking several ASKY flights, travelling through an international hub.

Mr Sawyer, a top official for Liberia's finance ministry, had travelled to Nigeria from Liberia, via Ghana and Togo. He collapsed on arrival at Lagos airport.

It was the first record case of ebola in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country.

At the ministry where he worked, several senior officials have been placed under observation for three weeks.

Passengers at ASKY's hub in Lome, Togo, will also be screened by medical teams.

Arik Air had already cancelled flights in the region.

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Strikes Kill 43 In Gaza As UN School Hit

At least 43 people have been killed in Gaza, including many at a UN school, during another night of heavy shelling, medics have said.

The building in Jebalya refugee camp, which is used as a shelter by some of the 200,000 people who have been displaced by the war, was hit around dawn.

At least 19 people, including a young child, were killed, many of them as they slept.

An Israeli military spokesman said militants close to the school fired mortars at soldiers before the attack.

Damage to the school in Jebalya that doubles up as a shelter for refugees

Adbel Karim al Masamha, who came to Jebalya with his family to seek refuge, said: "We did not find safety here. People were martyred before our eyes. They were dismembered."

Another of the refugees, Haleema Ghabin, added: "No place is safe, neither homes nor schools. We are defenceless civilians and children."

The school in Jebalya is the second UN-run establishment to be hit in the past week, with a complex in Beit Hanoun struck last Thursday, killing at least 15 people.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas entered its 23rd day, Israeli TV said progress was being made to achieve a deal in Egypt, where a Palestinian delegation was expected to arrive for discussions.

Jebalya is one of eight UN refugee camps in Gaza

Earlier, thick, black smoke could be seen rising from blazing fuel tanks at Gaza's only power station.

Israel knocked out the facility on Tuesday on the bloodiest day of the conflict so far.

At least 128 Palestinians were killed as Israel sought to destroy what it called Hamas "terror sites" with heavy fire from the air, land and sea.

Several mosques it claimed were being used by militants were targeted, as ground operations to destroy a sophisticated network of tunnels continued.

Sky's Shirene Tadros saw the aftermath of a rocket attack in Gaza City

Overnight, a family of seven were killed when Israeli tanks fired shells in the southern city of Khan Younis.

Meanwhile, the leader of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif, issued a rare statement, saying there will be no end to the fighting until the blockade of the Gaza Strip is lifted.

According to UNRWA, about 10% of Palestinians - more than 200,000 people - have been displaced by the fighting and are taking refuge in its 85 emergency shelters.

The figure is triple that seen at the peak of the 2008/9 conflict, with the organisation warning it is now at "breaking point".

More than 1,200 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed since the start of the offensive on July 8.

On the Israeli side, 53 soldiers and three civilians have died.

A poll by Tel Aviv University found 95% of Israel's Jewish majority feel the conflict is justified, with just 4% saying too much force is being used.

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MH17 Crash Investigators Stopped By Fighting

Officials sent to collect the remains of victims of flight MH17 have abandoned plans to access the crash site, as fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine reportedly left 22 people dead.

Investigators from the Netherlands and Australia had also been due to retrieve the belongings of the 298 people who were killed when the Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down earlier this month.

They were forced to call off their visit because of clashes between the Ukrainian military and pro-Russian rebels on the road leading to the crash site near Grabovo, according to the Dutch justice ministry.

It is the third day in a row the experts have been unable to carry out their work.

Around 60km (37 miles) away in Horlivka, 17 people, including three children, were killed by shelling, the mayor's office said.

Further east in Luhansk, five people were reportedly killed when a care home was struck by artillery fire.

Russian TV showed bodies in wheelchairs covered with blankets.

Earlier, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, urging him to halt hostilities in eastern Ukraine.

"We want to get to the crash site as quickly as possible to get to the victims and to bring them home," a spokesman for Mr Rutte said.

"Mr Poroshenko said he will do everything possible to make access possible."

The continuation of fighting comes as EU leaders meet to finalise further sanctions against Russia over its alleged backing of separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The planned move, designed to block Russian banks' access to European banks, was met with trepidation by oil giant BP, which warned economic restrictions could have an "adverse impact" on its own finances.

Moscow denies claims it has supplied military equipment and reinforcements to rebel fighters.

More than 100,000 people have now fled unrest in eastern Ukraine, according to the United Nations.

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Gaza's Power Plant Knocked Out By Missile Strike

The fuel depot of Gaza's only power plant was practically destroyed this morning, potentially cutting electricity to the enclave's 1.8 million residents.

The power plant supplies two thirds of the territory's energy needs and was engulfed in flames sending a column of black smoke into the air.

The power station supplies two thirds of the territory's energy needs

According to a spokesman for Gaza's electricity distribution company, the power plant was hit by shells fired from an Israeli tank, a claim which could not be verified.

An Israeli military spokeswoman had no immediate comment and said she was checking the report.

The plant's director said the facility was "finished".

The power station was hit last week and had been operating on a reduced capacity providing only a few hours of electricity per day to Gaza's residents.

"The power plant is finished," said its director, Mohammed al Sharif, who added the local fire brigade was not equipped to extinguish the blaze.

A Palestinian girl at the scene of an explosion that killed nine children

The depot was hit after another night of continued Israeli bombardment on Gaza, the heaviest in three weeks of fighting.

The home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was hit by a missile early this morning causing damage but no casualties, Gaza's Interior Ministry said.

Mr Haniyeh said in a statement: "My house is not more valuable than the houses of other people. Destroying stones will not break our determination."

The Al Aqsa TV headquaters after being hit by an Israeli shell

Israeli aircraft, tanks and gunboats pounded targets in Gaza City that were symbols of Hamas government control, including the headquarters of the Hamas satellite TV station Al Aqsa and Al Aqsa radio. 

Hamas said that despite the attack the stations continued to broadcast. 

In two separate incidents on Monday, 10 Israeli soldiers were killed during firefights with Hamas militants who infiltrated Israel through tunnels near the community of Nahal Oz.

An Israeli soldier hurt in a mortar attack is stretchered away by comrades

Israeli Army Radio said the Hamas gunmen fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the soldiers who were in a watchtower and then tried to drag one of the soldiers' bodies back into the tunnel, but failed when troops fired at them, killing one militant.

Hamas said nine of its fighters carried out the attack.

Also on Monday two rockets struck Gaza's main hospital and a refugee camp, killing nine children.

A building within Gaza port is seen on fire after several missile strikes

A Palestinian official said at least 10 people were killed in the strike on the camp, and a further 46 injured.

Palestinians said the rockets were fired by Israel, while Israel said the rockets were misfired by Hamas.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this morning accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza and called on the Islamic world to arm Palestinians fighting "the Zionist regime".

Israeli soldiers with the coffin of their comrade Liad Lavi

Israel started its offensive against Gaza on July 8, declaring its aim was to halt rockets fired by Hamas and its allies into Israel.

But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said he was widening the objectives, adding the only solution would be a complete demilitarisation of Gaza.

A Palestinian health official said the overall Gaza death toll stands at 1,110.

Israel said a total of 53 soldiers have been killed, including two civilians and a Thai national.

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Bankers Face World's Longest Bonus Clawbacks

By Mark Kleinman, City Editor

Staff at British banks could be made to hand back bonuses more than six years after the money has been paid to them under a regime that will amount to the world's toughest rules on clawing back remuneration.

Sky News has learnt that the Bank of England (BoE)'s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has decided to enforce, and potentially augment, a draconian proposal outlined in March.

In a policy statement to be published on Wednesday, it will confirm that banks will have to amend the employment contracts of senior staff in order to implement the new rules, which will come into force on January 1 next year.

Coming in the wake of a series of market manipulation and mis-selling scandals which have triggered tens of billions of pounds in fines and compensation to consumers, the tougher pay framework is likely to be welcomed in Westminster but spark opposition from bank executives who argue that the City's international competitiveness will be undermined.

In its consultation paper published earlier this year, the regulator proposed that clawback should operate for a six-year period after vesting.

That period is still expected to apply to awards made prior to the beginning of next year, in line with the statute of limitations for employment contracts, Sky News understands.

The PRA is to enforce the bonus policy on bankers

However, insiders said the PRA had also been examining whether bonus awards made after January 1 next year could be reclaimed for up to seven years.

The Bank of England declined to comment on Tuesday on whether it had opted to pursue clawback for post-2014 bonuses over the longer, seven-year period.

Either way, the final details will represent tougher rules for City bankers than those based in other international financial centres such as Frankfurt, Hong Kong or New York.

The tougher regime follows last year's report by the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards, which was chaired by the Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie.

Under the BoE's plans, banks will be obliged to reclaim money already paid to employees even where they have not been directly culpable of misconduct.

Lenders will instead be required to demonstrate that they have done so where "there is reasonable evidence of employee misbehaviour or material error; the firm or the relevant business unit suffers a material downturn in its financial performance; or the firm or the relevant business unit suffers a material failure of risk management".

The new framework will mean that many senior employees of UK-based banks will have to wait for at least 12 years - and possibly longer - between the point at which they are awarded a bonus and that at which it can no longer be either cancelled or reclaimed by their employer.

The rules will also apply to the overseas employees of UK-based banks, which the likes of HSBC and Standard Chartered will argue will put them at a major disadvantage in their key Asian operations.

Major lenders already operate lengthy bonus deferrals meaning that share awards do not vest until the end of a five-year period, during which time part or all of the awards can be cancelled under a mechanism called malus.

The new clawback rules would kick in at the end of the initial five years, making a total of well over a decade before bankers can spend bonus awards safe in the knowledge that they will not have to repay it.

The BoE will set out its policy just days after accusing employees of Lloyds Banking Group of "reprehensible" and "possibly criminal" behaviour for attempting to manipulate an emergency funding scheme set up to help banks like it avoid outright collapse during the 2008 financial crisis.

Andrew Bailey is the chief executive of the PRA

In a report published on Tuesday, the think-tank Respublica suggested that bankers should swear an oath that "would put them on the path to absolution".

Speaking in March, Andrew Bailey, the PRA chief executive said: "We have an objective to ensure the safety and soundness of the firms we regulate and we won't allow remuneration schemes to exist that encourage behaviour likely to jeopardise financial stability.

The policy we are consulting on will ensure bonuses can be clawed back from individuals, where they have already been paid, if it becomes apparent they have put the stability of their firms at risk or engaged in inappropriate actions.

"This will provide a clear message to individuals of what is expected from them and the consequences of not acting properly."

Alongside the clawback policy statement, the BoE will also publish further details of the City watchdog's senior managers' regime and other details of its remuneration policies.

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'Rivers Of Hail' As Freak Storm Sweeps Coast

A freak summer storm has brought chaos to the south coast of England and parts of London with lightning, floods and hailstones and a power cut on the railway lines.

Forecasters warned a "deeply unstable airmass" had brought the risk of heavy thundery showers across East Anglia, the South East and London throughout the day.

London Fire Brigade rescued two women from a car which was overcome with flood water in South Ruislip, north-west London.

Lighting strikes Hove, Sussex, taken from the bedroom of Jon Hughes

Firefighters also rescued five people from three neighbouring houses which were flooded in Thaxted, Essex.

One family remained on the first floor of their home while crews pumped water from the property after flood water affected the electrics.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for the south-east of England as nearly half a month's worth of rain fell in an hour in some areas.

Commuters were left stranded after the south-coast line was closed

Commuters in West Sussex braved torrential rain and hailstones as they struggled to work, though the main Brighton to London line was not affected.

Residents of Brighton, Hove and Worthing who posted pictures of the storm on social-media websites described seeing cars submerged and people taking shelter in the town hall.  

Network Rail said in a statement: "Electrical supply problems caused by a lightning strike, near Hove, are causing delays of up to 30 minutes to trains between Worthing and Hove/Brighton.

"There is no firm estimate yet of how long disruption will last but it is likely to continue until at least 09.00."

A street in Worthing which became impassable

South West Trains said Woking-bound trains would not be calling at Esher, Hersham or Walton-on-Thames because of flooding.

A spokesman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue told Sky News they have already received some 300 calls from the public.

Richard Fowler said: "The control room started receiving calls at six o'clock this morning. We have had 300 calls so far in the south coast area from Brighton and Hove.

Worthing Station was closed after flood water poured into the underpass

"The power to the track has had to be isolated because the tracks are flooded, and we have sent one of our high pumps over to assist with that.

"People are phoning and saying they have flooded basements which are affecting electrics. We did not expect this kind of extreme weather this morning. There are large hailstones on the ground. It is almost like winter."

Hove resident Adam Batchelor emailed a picture in to Sky News of the road outside his home in Hove.

"The basement flats flooded and people evacuated to the town hall," he said. "Thankfully I stayed away last night!"

Laurence Hill wrote on Twitter: "Used to be roads. Now rivers of hail. Never seen anything like it."

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Gaza Strikes Resume As UN Calls For Ceasefire

The Israeli military says it has carried out three airstrikes on Gaza, ending a 12-hour lull in fighting at the start of a major Muslim holiday.

Fighter jets reportedly hit two missile launchers and a rocket factory, in what a defence spokesman said was a response to earlier Hamas rockets fired into Israel.

It came as the UN Security Council called for "an immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza following an emergency session in New York.

The council adopted a presidential statement - one step below a legally-binding resolution - urging Israel and Hamas "to accept and fully implement the humanitarian ceasefire".

The present conflict between Israel and Hamas began on July 8

A 24-hour temporary truce, agreed ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid, had been due to last until 2pm (noon UK time).

However, Sky's Sherine Tadros, in Gaza City, said: "There's an almost constant thud of artillery fire coming from an area of Gaza that's been pounded pretty hard.

"There certainly isn't a ceasefire here. At best, what we have seen is a lull in the violence."

Several temporary truces have been observed and broken on a weekend when the Palestinian death toll topped 1,000.

Some 43 Israeli soldiers have also been killed since their military operation began on July 8, while three civilians have died from rocket fire into Israel.

As well as calling for an immediate truce, the Security Council statement set out a longer-term aim of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, "with secure and recognised borders".

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian representative to the UN, said he was "disappointed" a formal resolution demanding Israel withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip had not been agreed.

"They should have adopted a resolution a long time ago to condemn this aggression and to call for this aggression to be stopped immediately," he said.

Israeli ambassador Ron Prosor added: "Miraculously (the statement) doesn't mention Hamas. It doesn't mention the firing of rockets.

"You don't have to have the IQ of a rocket scientist to understand that if rockets are falling on you, you are allowed to defend yourself."

On Sunday, Barack Obama called Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to press for an immediate truce.

The US President said Israel had a right to defend itself but reiterated his country's "serious and growing concern" about the loss of life on both sides and the "worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza".

Tadros said more than 160,000 civilians had sought refuge in dozens of temporary shelters and were suffering from major food and water shortages.

"People think the best possible situation is a continuation of this low intensity violence, rather than an escalation, which is what everyone is afraid of in the absence of a ceasefire, permanent or otherwise," she added.

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MH17 Black Boxes: Plane 'Hit By Shrapnel'

Black box data from the downed Malaysia Airlines plane reveals the jet crashed due to a "massive explosive decompression" after being hit by shrapnel from a missile, claims a Ukrainian security official.

Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine's Security Council, said the information came from experts analysing the flight recorders from MH17, which was shot down in a rebel-held area of eastern Ukraine killing all 298 people on board.

The plane's black boxes are being examined by UK air accident investigators

Air accident experts in Farnborough, Hampshire, had been tasked with downloading the data from the two black boxes and passing the information on to international investigators.

Western countries blame rebels for shooting down the airliner with a missile, mistaking it for a Ukrainian plane, but the separatists deny any involvement.

Meanwhile, a team of Dutch and Australian police making a fresh attempt to reach the crash site were again forced to turn back after "explosions" in the area.

A previous attempt had also been halted by fierce fighting.

The UN's Navi Pillay is demanding a full inquiry into the plane attack

Australia's Deputy Commissioner of National Security Andrew Colvin said evidence risked being lost amid the continuing clashes, and the chances of finding the remains of all the dead grew slimmer as time went on.

The claims about data from the flight recorders came as the UN said the shooting down of the airliner may amount to a war crime.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay condemned the "horrendous shooting down" of flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, and demanded a "thorough, effective, independent and impartial investigation".

She said in a statement: "This violation of international law, given the prevailing circumstances, may amount to a war crime.

"Every effort will be made to ensure that anyone committing serious violations of international law including war crimes will be brought to justice, no matter who they are."

Some 100,000 people have fled the violence in eastern Ukraine, says the UN

The UN also said latest figures showed more than 1,100 people had been killed and nearly 3,500 wounded in fighting in eastern Ukraine since April, with both sides using heavy weapons in built-up areas, including artillery, tanks, rockets and missiles.

"Both sides must take great care to prevent more civilians from being killed or injured," Ms Pillay said.

A further 100,000 people have fled the violence.

The UN report also accused the rebels of conducting a brutal "reign of intimidation and terror" in the areas they controlled, including the abduction, torture and killing of civilians.

The US has released satellite images it claims show rockets have been fired at Ukraine from within Russia.

Casualty numbers are rising with the use of heavy weapons in built-up areas

The images, which come from the US Director of National Intelligence and have not been independently verified, also purport to show that heavy artillery for pro-Russian separatists has crossed the border.

Their release appears to be a part of Barack Obama's push to hold Russia accountable for its activities in Ukraine - and persuade European allies to apply harsher sanctions on Moscow.

Moscow has denied allegations of involvement in eastern Ukraine, claiming the US is conducting "an unrelenting campaign of slander against Russia, ever more relying on open lies".

More follows...

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Clegg: Russia Should Be Stripped Of World Cup

Russia should be stripped of the 2018 World Cup in the wake of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, says Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

He said it was "unthinkable" at present that the tournament could go ahead in the country blamed by the West for supplying arms to pro-Russian separatists suspected of shooting down the jet.

Football's world governing body Fifa this week ruled out calls from some German politicians for Russia to be boycotted, insisting the tournament could be "a force for good".

But Mr Clegg told The Sunday Times that allowing it to go ahead without a change of course by Russian President Vladimir Putin would make the world look "so weak and so insincere" in its condemnation of Moscow's annexation of Crimea and support for the rebels.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg

"If there's one thing that Vladimir Putin cares about, as far as I can see, it's his sense of status," he said.

"Maybe reminding him that you can't retain the same status in the world if you ignore the rest of the world, maybe that will have some effect on his thinking."

Russia has reacted angrily to additional sanctions imposed by the EU, saying they would hamper co-operation on security issues and undermine the fight against terrorism and organised crime.

Russia's foreign ministry also accused the US of contributing to the conflict in Ukraine through its support for the pro-Western government in Kiev.

Part of the fuselage from the plane

It comes as 30 Dutch forensic experts head to the crash site in eastern Ukraine, despite intensifying fighting in the area between Ukrainian government forces and the rebels.

Malaysia says it has secured an agreement with the separatists to allow international police to enter the site.

Officers would be allowed access to the area to provide protection for international crash investigators to recover human remains and establish the cause of the disaster.

Meanwhile, a Malaysia Airlines official has called for the creation of a new body to decide which flight paths are safe following the downing of the Boeing 777-200 in which all 298 people on board died.

Hugh Dunleavy, the company's commercial director, said airlines could no longer rely on decisions made by existing industry bodies on which volatile regions are secure to fly over.

This map shows the flight path of MH17 before it crashed

Despite flying over a conflict zone, MH17's flight path had been approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the Ukrainian authorities and the European airspace service provider Eurocontrol, Mr Dunleavy said.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he called for airlines and existing aviation bodies to "review existing processes and set more stringent standards".

"Ultimately, we need one body to be the arbiter of where we can fly," he said.

"This tragedy has taught us that despite following the guidelines and advice set out by the governing bodies, the skies above certain territories are simply not safe.

"For the sake of passenger and crew safety we need to insist on a higher level of authority."

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American Doctor Infected With Deadly Ebola

An American doctor working with Ebola patients in Liberia has tested positive for the deadly virus.

Kent Brantly, 33, recognised his own symptoms and confined himself to an isolation ward.

The medic, who is married and has children, is being treated at a hospital in the capital Monrovia.

The disease has killed at least 672 people in four West African countries since the outbreak began earlier this year in Guinea and spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Sky's Thomas Moore shows where the virus has spread

Nigeria's airports and ports are on red alert following the death of a man from Liberia who was carrying the virus. It was the first case in Africa's most populous country.

He vomited and had a high fever on board a passenger plane, and was immediately quarantined upon arrival in the capital Lagos.

But he died in hospital from the virus on Friday.

His flight had had a stopover in Togo which is also on high alert as it may have spread there too.

Dr Brantly is a medical director at an Ebola case management centre run by aid organisation Samaritan's Purse.

Photos show him working in white overalls made of a synthetic material that he wore for several hours each day while treating Ebola patients.

Earlier this year, he was quoted on the organisation's website about efforts to maintain an isolation ward for patients.

Ebola is highly contagious and kills up to 90% of people infected

"The hospital is taking great effort to be prepared," Dr Brantly said.

"In past Ebola outbreaks, many of the casualties have been healthcare workers who contracted the disease through their work caring for infected individuals."

Dr Brantly, a family practice physician from Fort Worth, Texas, began working in Africa as part of a post-residency programme before the Ebola outbreak began.

His family had been living with him in Africa but they are currently in the US.

Ebola is highly contagious and kills up to 90% of people infected.

It is passed by touching bodily fluids of patients even after they die, said Dr Unni Krishnan from Plan International.

Traditional burials that include rubbing the bodies of the dead contribute to the spread of the disease, he added.

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Hamas Agrees To New 24-Hour Truce In Gaza

Hamas has agreed to a new 24-hour humanitarian truce in Gaza to coincide with the Muslim festival of Eid, marking the end of Ramadan.

The ceasefire was due to start at noon UK time.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: "In response to UN intervention and considering the situation of our people and the occasion of Eid, it has been agreed among resistance factions to endorse a 24-hour humanitarian calm, starting from 2pm (local time) on Sunday."

The move comes after the Israeli military resumed fighting in Gaza after accusing Hamas of violating a previous humanitarian truce, which had been extended by Israel.

Israel had resumed its offensive in Gaza after a fragile truce

Air raid sirens sounded in southern and central Israel this morning as militants in Gaza fired a salvo of rockets across the border.

In a statement the Israeli military said: "Following Hamas' incessant rocket fire throughout the humanitarian window, which was agreed upon for the welfare of the civilian population in Gaza, the (army) will now resume its aerial, naval and ground activity in the Gaza Strip."

Israel signalled the end to its unilateral truce with tanks and artillery pounding targets in Gaza, sending plumes of thick black smoke into the sky.

At least three people were reported killed in separate strikes.

More than 1,000 Palestinians have died since Israel launched a military operation more than two weeks ago.

Some 132 bodies were pulled from rubble in Gaza during Saturday's truce

The number of Israeli troops to die in combat has risen to 43. Three civilians have also been killed by rocket fire into Israel.

Israel had extended a ceasefire until midnight (10pm UK time) on Sunday at the UN's request, on condition its forces could continue to track down and destroy militant tunnels that criss-cross the Gaza border.

It also said it would retaliate if attacked.

But Hamas had immediately rejected the truce saying its forces would continue fighting while Israeli troops remained in Gaza.

Israelis demonstrated against their government's military operation

Some 132 bodies were reportedly pulled from the rubble in Gaza during the lull in fighting, while the pause allowed Palestinians to stock up on supplies.

Late Saturday the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on Israel immediately after the expiration the initial 12-hour ceasefire.

The resumption of rocket fire led police to clear a protest in Tel Aviv, where thousands of Israelis were demonstrating against their government's military operation.

Anti-war protests also took place in London, Paris, Frankfurt and other cities.

Meanwhile, international efforts are continuing to try and thrash out a wider ceasefire.

And the Pope made an emotional plea for peace in his weekly address in St Peter's Square.

In unscripted remarks, and with his voice appearing to crack with emotion, Pope Francis made a direct appeal for the fighting to end.

He said: "Please stop, I ask you with all my heart, it's time to stop. Stop, please"

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