Assault kills top Hamas leader ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Financial Times by Tobias Buck, Andrew England, Heba Saleh - January 16, 2009 - 1:00am Israeli forces yesterday launched their most furious assault on the Gaza Strip yet, killing a top Hamas leader and shelling a key United Nations compound, amid intensifying diplomatic efforts to end the 20-day conflict. The strikes killed Saeed Seyyam, the Hamas interior minister and the most senior leader of the Islamist group to die so far. News of his death came as the Israeli security cabinet met last night to discuss an Egyptian ceasefire proposal. However, it decided only to dispatch Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister, to Washington. » Read more

U.N. Chief Urges Israel to Halt Attack on Gaza ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner, Michael Slackman - January 16, 2009 - 1:00am CAIRO — As the war in Gaza entered its 21st day with the quest for an elusive truce resuming in Cairo and Washington, a top exile leader of the Hamas militant group battling Israel’s onslaught rejected Israel’s terms for a cease-fire and urged Arab states to support its resistance. In a speech broadcast across the Arab world and widely followed in the Middle East and elsewhere, Khaled Meshal, the senior leader in exile of Hamas, told an unusual Arab gathering in Doha, Qatar, that “I assure you: despite all the destruction in Gaza, we will not accept Israel’s conditions for a ceasefire. » Read more

Gaza ceasefire imminent as Israel negotiates deals with Egypt and US ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Times by Martin Fletcher - January 16, 2009 - 1:00am The Israeli military sought to inflict maximum damage on Hamas today before Ehud Omert's government submitted to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that would end the fighting before Barak Obama's inauguration on Tuesday. Amos Gilad, Israel's top negotiator, flew to Cairo to hammer out the remaining details of that ceasefire agreement. Tzipi Livni, the Foreign Minister, flew overnight to Washington where she and Condoleezza Rice are expected to sign a second agreement committing the United States to measures to stop Hamas re-arming itself. » Read more

On Day of Heavy Fighting, Moves Toward Gaza Peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post by Griff Witte - January 16, 2009 - 1:00am After one of the most violent days of Israel's nearly three-week-old war against the Hamas movement in Gaza, the conflict appeared late Thursday to be moving toward a diplomatic solution. » Read more

Hamas: We will not accept Israel cease-fire demands ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - January 16, 2009 - 1:00am Hamas will not accept Israeli conditions for a cease-fire in Gaza and would continue armed resistance until the offensive ends, Khaled Meshal, the leader of the Palestinian Islamist group, said on Friday. Speaking at the opening of an emergency meeting on Gaza in Doha, Meshal called on the leaders present to cut all ties with Israel. However, Hamas is set to send a delegation to Cairo later on Friday to discuss Egyptian efforts to mediate a cease-fire in Gaza, a Hamas official told Al Jazeera television. » Read more