President Barack Obama offered the help of the United States in negotiating a ceasefire to end escalating violence between Israel and Hamas.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said it is more urgent than ever to avoid another Israeli-Palestinian war that could spill into the Middle East and called on both sides to agree a ceasefire.

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US Secretary of State Colin Powell today blamed Yasser Arafat for blocking US efforts to make Palestinian security forces strong enough to end terror attacks on Israel.