Egypt demands end to Gaza slaughter

Hamas fighters fired more rockets into Israel, including some that hit Tel Aviv and one at Jerusalem, though there had not been any further Israeli casualties when the Morning Star went to press.

At least three Israelis and 22 Palestinians including six children have died since Israel assassinated Hamas military chief Ahmad al-Ja'abari on Wednesday - apparently just after he had received a draft of a permanent truce agreement between his organisation and Israel.

Thousands of Egyptians marched in Cairo and Alexandria to condemn Israel's assault.

President Mohammed Morsi has withdrawn the Egyptian ambassador from Tel Aviv in protest and is demanding an immediate ceasefire.

Mr Morsi slammed Israel's "blatant aggression against humanity" and warned: "Egypt today is not the Egypt of today. The aggressors will never rule over the people of Gaza."

Israel claimed to have ceased fire while the Egyptian PM was in Gaza, though Hamas says at least three air strikes took place while he was there.

Mr Kandil toured Gaza City's Shifa hospital with Gaza's Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh.

At one point the pair were rushed by a man holding the lifeless body of a four-year-old he said was killed in an air strike.

Mr Kandil said: "What I saw today, the wounded and the martyrs - this boy whose blood is still on my hands and clothes - is something we cannot keep silent about."

But Israel continued to ramp up the violence, massing tanks and soldiers on the border.

"Israel continues to strike hard against Hamas and is prepared to expand its action into Gaza," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted.

Huge protests against the assault were held across the Middle East, in the West Bank, Iran, Lebanon and in many other countries.

Iraq's envoy to the Arab League suggested its members use "the weapon of oil" to put pressure on the West to force Israel to back down.

Protests within Israel were also held, including at the universities of Haifa, Tel Aviv and the Jerusalem Hebrew University.

Reports from Hamas that it had shot down an Israeli aircraft could not be confirmed last night.

• Tunisia Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem is set to arrive in Gaza tomorrow with a delegation carrying humanitarian aid.