NOTHING short of the full lifting of Israel’s blockade on Gaza would allow the territory to be rebuilt, the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees said yesterday, a day after Israel said it would ease its siege.

Israel gave a guarded welcome to a ceasefire proposal for Gaza today raising hopes its bloody 12-day offensive could be winding down.

France and Egypt announced an initiative to stop the fighting in Gaza early today as Israel agreed to a “humanitarian corridor” for vital supplies.

Gaza’s only electrical plant shut down today after Israel blocked the shipment of fuel that powers them.

Israeli aircraft killed two Hamas militants in Gaza fighting early today, a day after Israel sealed the territory and bombed an empty Hamas government ministry in an intensifying campaign to halt rocket fire on Israeli border towns.