The Israeli military has stepped up its attacks on Gaza, as the offensive on Hamas enters its second week.

Israeli artillery began to bombard the territory for what is thought to be the first time during the offensive, and more air strikes were launched.

Correspondents say the activity could be an indication the Israeli military is preparing to launch a ground attack.

In one attack, at least 10 people were killed when a shell hit a mosque in Beit Lahiya, Palestinian sources said.

Witnesses said more than 200 people had been inside the Ibrahim al-Maqadna mosque for evening prayers when it was struck.

Palestinian medics and Hamas officials said they believed dozens were injured.

Hamas defiant

Overnight, another Hamas military commander, Abu Zakari

President Bush has blamed the violence in Gaza and southern Israel firmly on Hamas, after a week of Israeli air strikes and Palestinian rocket attacks.

Mr Bush, who has just weeks left in office, said Hamas was a terrorist group dedicated to destroying Israel.

Earlier the Hamas leader-in-exile, Khaled Meshaal, warned Israel of a "black destiny" if it began a threatened ground offensive on Gaza.

Hamas said one of its military leaders died in an overnight strike.

I urge all parties to pressure Hamas to turn away from terror and to support legitimate Palestinian leaders working for peace

The Hamas leader-in-exile, Khaled Meshaal, has warned Israel that it would face a "black destiny" if it launched a ground offensive on Gaza.

Speaking publicly for the first time since Israeli air strikes started a week ago, he said Hamas resistance and infrastructure were intact.

His remarks came as the UN warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The UN said it believed 25% of more than 400 Palestinians said killed by Israeli action so far were civilians.

In a pre-recorded statement broadcast on al-Jazeera TV, Damascus-based Khaled Meshaal, said Israel would be making a "foolish mistake" if it sent tanks into Gaza.

"We will not break, we will not surrender or give in to your conditions," Mr Meshaal said in a speech aimed at the Israelis, the P

The first commercial flight between Europe and Iraq in at least 17 years has landed at Baghdad airport.

Swedish-based company Nordic Leisure says it expects to fly to the Iraqi capital once a week.

About 150 passengers, mainly Iraqis, arrived from Denmark on the first such flight since UN sanctions were imposed after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

Iraqi national carrier Iraqi Airways has said it hopes to start flying routes to Europe in the coming months.

More international arrivals are expected in the next two days, including one from Hong Kong, Iraqi Transport Minister Amer Abduljabbar Ismail told journalists, AFP news agency reported.

Air France-KLM signed a preliminary accord with Iraq just days ago, setting out plans for Iraqi Airways to fly to Europ

The UN has warned that Palestinians in Gaza are facing a serious health and food crisis, as Israeli air strikes continued for a seventh day.

The "critical emergency" comes despite an increase in humanitarian shipments, said Maxwell Gaylard, the UN's chief aid co-ordinator for the territory.

The UN said at least 100 civilians were among some 400 Palestinians killed so far, and an estimated 2,000 wounded.

Israel said Gazans were continuing to receive sufficient food and medicines.

In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry said that since the beginning of the campaign, 335 truckloads of humanitarian aid (7,800 tonnes) had been delivered into Gaza.

It said it was working with international organisations in Gaza as well as various governments "in order to