Hamas says Gaza blockade must end before ceasefire
Al-Huriya News Agency - The leader of Islamic militant group Hamas has said there can be no ceasefire to ease the conflict in Gaza without an end to Israel's blockade.
Khaled Meshaal said Hamas would continue to reject a lasting ceasefire until its conditions were met.
It follows further Israeli air strikes and ground operations in Gaza, as Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel.
Israel launched its military offensive on 8 July with the declared objective of stopping rocket fire from Gaza.
At least 649 Palestinians and 32 Israeli soldiers, plus three Israeli civilians, have been killed in the past 15 days of fighting, officials say
Earlier, the UN's top human rights official, Navi Pillay, condemned Israel's military actions in Gaza.
She also condemned Hamas for "indiscriminate attacks" on Israel.
There have been hundreds of rocket attacks on Israel and Israeli air strikes on Gaza since the Israeli offensive began.
