Crowds gathered at Auckland's Aotea Square to protest the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza have been urged to shut down the Israeli embassy in New Zealand.

Hamas has ruled out a ceasefire deal unless Israel "lifts the siege" on Gaza, the organisation's political chief has said.

Investor sentiment was hit across the globe by rising geopolitical tension following the downing of a Malaysian airliner and the start of an Israeli offensive into Gaza.

Israel has resumed its air campaign against Gaza after Hamas rejected a six-hour truce and fired dozens of rockets over the border.

Social media has become one of the weapons of war. The Israeli army, which has been on Twitter since 2009, now has 286,000 followers.

Washington has warned Israel against any ground invasion of Gaza, as the UN says more than 40 of the 176 dead were children.

The residents of the Mobarat Felestin centre for the disabled had just finished suhoor, the early morning meal before a long day of fasting during Ramadan, when the first missile hit the roof.

It was at the corner of Wehada St that the missile hit Mohammed Shaaban's car - and almost certainly propelled Israel's phoney war with Hamas into an all-out conflict.

Israeli-Palestinian relations in new crisis with violent clashes following the discovery of body of a Palestinian teenager apparently abducted in revenge attack.

Lupe Fiasco has been rushed off stage at a pre-inauguration concert for Barack Obama after performing an anti-war song telling the audience he did not vote for the President.

Leslie Bravery responds to the Israeli ambassador's comments on the Gaza conflict

An apparent airstrike in Gaza destroys a target minutes after residents receive a phone call telling them to get out. Courtesy: LiveLeak/yaya83

Israel needs to "flatten all of Gaza" in order to spare the lives of Israeli soldiers and civilians, according to a son of former Israeli PM Ariel Sharon.

Israel dismisses claims it is behind events hampering Gaza protest.

South African judge Richard Goldstone said yesterday that he did not plan to seek nullification of his highly critical United Nations report.