Gaza conflict

An Invercargill cafe that refused to serve Israeli nationals during the conflict between Israel and Palestine has apologised for its conduct and the matter has now been resolved, the Human Rights Commission said today.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says border crossings with Gaza will not be fully opened until a captured Israeli soldier is freed.

About 20 protesters stood outside a Turkish cafe in Invercargill today, protesting against owner Mustafa Tekinkaya banning Israeli customers while the bombing of Gaza continues.

UN humanitarian chief John Holmes said on Tuesday (US time) he is heading to Gaza. A top priority will be to get all border crossings opened, he said, not only for food and medicine but for desperately needed construction materials which Israel has refused to allow in since Hamas seized power in June 2007.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid will be needed immediately to help Gaza's 1.4 million people and billions of dollars will be required to rebuild its shattered buildings and infrastructure, the UN humanitarian chief said.

Demonstrators supporting Israel's right to defend itself gathered outside Parliament today, waving Israeli flags and calling on Hamas to end rocket attacks on civilians.

Israel says it was shocked and distressed by a senior Vatican cardinal's likening of Gaza under Israel's military offensive to a concentration camp.