an uneasy calm in gaza after israelii strikes pound the strip. ♪ hello, you are watching al jazerra live from our headquarters here in doha. coming up on the program. think after days of gun battles libyan fighters say that they have taken control of the airport in triply. dozens are killed in iraq as attacks rock two cities in the north and the capital. and why screed vendors in

tunisia are still struggling more than three years after one of their zone sparked the arab spring. ♪ ♪ welcome to the program. an israeli air strike has destroyed a multi-story apartment building in gaza claiming it housed hamas fighters, despite calls from israel and palestinian faction to his call a ceasefire and resume negotiations. there has been continued fighting in trip. two palestinians were killed in an israeli strike on sunday, 11 were killed on saturday. jane ferguson joins me now from gas a palestinians waking up to more destruction in the strip. just bring us up to speed on the latest developments. >> reporter: air strikes do continue, like you said. up until this moment i am standing here in gaza city, we can hear air strikes in coming. several loud bangs just in this

area so those do indeed continue. as you said two people killed oveovernight in air strikes, two tall buildings do you understand completely by israeli air strikes. you will see a dramatic picture that have in this report. >> reporter: after more than six weeks of fighting, this is perhaps the largest act of property destruction by israeli forces in a single strike. distraught residents fled the area with little more than the clothes on their back. several people were injured, including many children. >> translator: we were informed about half an hour before the shelling this, tower has 11 floors and 32 families were living there. the minute we evacuate the the place was hit by a warning rocket and immediately after the f-16s fired two rockets, the

building collapsed completely. all families are now on the streets. god help us all. >> reporter: israel's military said the building was targeted because it was being used by huh marks residents deny them the destruction of the tower has a further sign of escalation between israel and hamas following the collapse of a temporary truce earlier this week. on saturday, palestinian leader mahmoud abbas met with egyptian president e el al sey. >> what turns us most is putting an end to the bloodshed. once that happens the humanitarian relief aid and rebuilding efforts must start. >> after weeks of blood sh shedd mass destruction, many residents wants to see an end of the violence but only in israel agrees to lift its years long blockade which has strangled the economy my. calls for an indefinite ceasefire are strong signs palestinian officials may apply to join the international

criminal court that would enable them to call for an investigation in to whether israel may have committed war crimes, but joining the i.c.c. would also mean that they too could face the same scrutiny. al jazerra, gaza. >> well, jane it's supposed to be the first day of school for palestinian children, but those schools are closed. there will be no learning today, why? >> reporter: it's meant to be the first day of the whole school here, even though it's sunday this is the first day of the week in this part of the world. there are almost 300,000 palestinians who have had to shelter inside schools here. around half of the children that go to school in gaza, go to school in u.n. schools, even government schools which aren't being used as shelters, many of those have been damaged in the fighting. this is a huge logistical problem here because the 85 u.n.

schools that those 300,000 people are sheltering in, should be opening their doors to classes for children. of course, in many cases, the children who should be attending school in those classes, are, in fact, overnighting with their families there. often the pupils who attend these schools are the ones from the neighborhood that have become homeless. although, there are many people sheltering because they are waiting to find out if the peace processor any kind of peace deal could basically begin in cairo, they are waiting for that. some of them can return home, but many of them can't. around 100,000 people have had their homes either completely destroyed or destroyed to the point where they are no longer inhabitable. this can be a long-term problem, a major issue for the u.n. and it's a reflection of how normal life here can't get back on track really until there is some sort of ceasefire that's extended or a peace deal. >> for the moment, jane, thank you. and of course, we'll follow the

events as they progress today in gaza with you. since the conflict began in july, 68 israelis have been killed. a thai national killed in israel, 2106 palestinians killed. including 567 children. and more than 10,000 1/2 people have been injured as well. the united nations says 71% of those killed are civilians. now, rocket fire from lebanon has struck a house in northern israel, this picture shows security forces searching the damaged building. no one has claimed responsibility so far. moving to libya now where fight nurse the country there have captured trip i can't's main airport after days of tense fighting with national lift militia. they have been battling for control of the strategic airport which has been closed for more

than a month amid increasing violence, here is more. >> reporter: libyan fighters storm the airport. after days of battles, the brigade say they are now in control. >> it's been controlled that libyan forces have gained control over which the triply national airport and currently they are inside and around trip will he international airport. the airport las been closed since july 14th because of the violence, thousands forced to leave the area. most of the airport has now been destroyed. it's the rival militia which has been defending it. the group took over the airport last month. it's been the main fighting force in tripoli since the fall of muammar qaddafi in 2011. on saturday they launched

strikes killing more than a dozen. it's not known who ordered the attack. they are blaming external forces. >> translator: based on the intelligence that we have, egyptian and the uae governments are directly involved in this heinous attack, we stress that we have good relations with the good people of egypt and the uea. but the lick vinnie rebels rant wa*pbts to make it clear we'll always defends our homeland against this aggression. >> reporter: this man, the renegade general, base in benghazi, he began a campaign to crush the many rebel groups in may. but the libyan government accuses him of trying to take over the government. there were massive protests against him and his campaign. thousands of people rallied across six cities. this has been the story of libya since the revolution, the

militias that that over through goverthrew gacalf uh-huhs takens against each other. iran's foreign minister has arrived in baghdad. he's scheduled to mean the prime minister according to a rain irn television. following 24 hours of violence in iraq. three car bombs, flowedded in the oil-rich city of kirkuk, killing at least 18 people there. and there las been a bombing in erbil the capital of the semi autonomous kurdish ring i the iraqi armer is trying to fight off the islamic group. let's get the very latest from our correspondent who is in erbil in northern iraq. and the latest on the figh fighg it's actually quite sporadic around the country while there

is pressure to form a government and have some sort of command center you might say even in baghdad. >> reporter: absolutely. some of the main fighting remains in the northeast of iraq not far from the iranian border that's certainly one of the things that will be discussed between the iranian foreign minister and his iraqi counterpart in baghdad. the peshmerga kurdish forces remain on the edge. they are said to have been backed by iranian troops that came across the boarder and then withdrew again. but it indicates the seriousness of the situation. the number of players here, and the incredible complexity as you point out the iraqi government is still trying to come up with a credible new government that includes sunnis, kurds and everybody else. >> and, of course, there are various statements being made by specific groups regarding attacks on mosques, how they are fighting the i.s. an explosion in erbil on

saturday certainly has unfleshed the authorities. i am sure the residents as well, not just there but across the country. >> reporter: here in erbil people aren't used to the explosions of the kind they saw yesterday. it was a sticky bomb, according to authorities. a bomb placed on the under carriage of a vehicle, the vehicle on a main road between erbil and kirkuk, kirkuk remains volatile. it's where there were explosions yesterday. it's the capital of the oil region and it is where significantly kurdish forces moved in to take control after iraqi forces withdrew. it remains one of those fault lines, the sectarian ethnic fault lines in iraq, and consistently volatile. my colleague was there and that is this report. >> reporter: this family has been living in this room for almost three months down, they moved to kirkuk when their hometown became a battle ground,

iraqi planes and helicopters have been bomb barting the area. he no longer feels his country is safe for all of its communities. >> translator: prime minister maliki wants to get rid of sunnis, he's fighting us in fallujah, a at that creek and all sunni areas, why doesn't he bomb i don't have rah. it's not acceptable that only sunni areas are targeted. >> reporter: second tear i didn't know tensions are not new. but attacking a mosque couldn't come for the worst time for a country trying to deal with religious. sunni lawmakers initially threatened to pull out of talks on forming a new cabinet but the speaker of parliament who was is a sunni was more conciliatory. >> translator: there are those that want to that ward the political process, they are targeting iraqi society and it's a social structures, there are intents contacts being made with all the political forces in the

nation. some of them have been responsive and we thank them for that. >> reporter: many iraqis are cautiously optimistic. now that there is a political process to form a new government. but it is not just about changing the leadership's faces. >> translator: we hope all iraqis will be treated equally and all get the same employment opportunities and the army will serve everyone. >> reporter: there is a power struggle in iraq and the conflict has created a dangerous sectarian divide. one that has allowed the islamic state group to create its own state within the country. these people say they are caught in the middle of a conflict. as sunnis they don't support the shia led government if baghdad. but at the same time, many of them say the islamic state group doesn't represent them. it is one of many sunni groups fighting the government and tribal elders say as long as iraq sunnis don't have power, the islamic state group will remain powerful. >> translator: arab sunnis sim pa thighs with the islamic state

group because of the way the iraqi government dealt with us since 2003, we used to have positions in government, and the army, now we are in prisons. >> reporter: never before has there been such a urgency for reconciliation, the dimensions are growing, the state weak, and right now the islamic state group and shia militias linked to the government seem to be the authorities on the ground. well, still to come here on al jazerra, we'll be live in ukraine as the country marks its independence day. plus. >> reporter: i am in ferguson, missouri, an area synonymous with the death an unarmed black teaming tanker at the hands of a policpolice officers we'll be gg reaction from the white community. stuart! stuart!

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smoltz ♪ welcome bam. you are watching al jazerra. these are our top stories. an israeli air strike has destroyed a multi-story apartment building in gaza claiming it housed hamas fighters. despite calls for israel and palestinian faction to his call a ceasefire and resume negotiations there has been continued fighting in the strip. fight nurse libya say they have captured tripoli's main airport after days of intense fighting. rival brigades have been battling for control of the strategic airport which has been closed for more than a month a midst increasing violence. after 24 hours of violence and bombings across iraq, iran's foreign minister has arrived in baghdad for talks with politicians, he is expected to

meet the country' country primer designate. german chancellor angela merkel have pledges $700 million to rebuild eastern ukraine. she also called for a critical solution to the crisis. right now ukraine is celebrating independence day with a military parade in kiev. these are live pictures coming out of the ukrainian capital. it marks independence from the soviet union in 1991, but in the far east fighting persists between pro russia separatists and the ukrainian army. this is a report from luhansk. >> reporter: we are on the road for luhansk, a city under siege. the red cross have been trying to reach the city for several days, but the route is still too dangerous. this hospital, close to the frontline, is running out of

supplies. they are now dependent on the red cross for help. >> most of the patients here are victims of shells. this is what we can see from medical point of view. [ inaudible ] >> reporter: on a visit to keif, the german chancellor angela merkel called for an effective ceasefire. she also warned that russia could face fresh sanctions if it failed to bring about an end to the conflict. >> translator: the plans are on the table about how to achieve peace with each other. now actions must follow. and i think that many initiatives have been taken from the ukrainian side. >> reporter: in luhansk the weak and vulnerable are suffering the most. 83-year-old was severely injured while sitting on a park bench. she'll never walk again. high above luhansk, ukrainian sole years are poised for more shelling. this is one ukrainian artillery position used to continually

bombard the city of luhansk. one of the last remaining separatist pockets of resistence, here in eastern ukraine, the battlefield shifts on a daily basis. in the nearby town of don everything, locals are celebrating their allegiance to kiev. the town was recaptured by ukrainian forces a month ago. >> we need to live in a free country. in our ukraine. not in russia. >> reporter: germany has pledged $670 million to rebuild the war-ravaged rooming un. but with little prospect of a ceasefire in sight, there can be no hope of a new start. >> and neave barker joins me on the outskirts of lou afternoon. these independence day celebrations take on a very special significance considering what has been going on for nearly 12 months. >> reporter: absolutely.

well, i mean, historically, as you already mentioned there, the day marks the home 23 years ago when the ukraine gained independence from the soviet union but it takes on a whole new meaning together. as we have seen from the pictures coming out of kiev, there are widespread celebrations taking place there. a very large parade. president petro poroshenko keen to show the country is united and he's also keen to show that he can keep a grip on national security as the new leadership try to consolidate power both at home and abroad. where i am right in the center of town of slovyansk. we are seeing much more mooted celebration -fplz onls. only a few weeks ago this town was under the separatist control and the scene of some of the most heavy shelling along with street to street fighting. but this small gathering here behind me does, however, have the feel of a victory

celebration. we are, of course, only a few kilometer as way from where the fighting still continues. security here is very tight indeed. the ukrainian authorities are just not take anything chances. >> we'll follow the events with you in ukraine as the day progresses. for the moment, neave, thank you. now, it was a young tunisian street vendor who helped ignite the arab spring. and since the revolution, informal trade in tunisia has increased with almost a 40 you want ofourthof the population o. in the second of our reports from tunisia. >> reporter: for years, he has been selling illegal on the streets of tunisia. it is a family business, his nephew helps out for a few dollars a day. and every morning he gives his wife some money, he doesn't know if the police will arrest him and takeaway his goods.

>> translator: we have families to feed. so we need to work. we are reaching out to the government to help us become legitimate. but if they don't assist us, then we will state say in this chaotic system. >> reporter: it is more than three and a half years since a young street seller mohamed, was targeted by the police. he set fire to himself, his death sparked a revolution. this is one of the consequences of tunisia's revolution, you can find illegal vendors selling their goods like this across the country. according to some estimates, half of the economy here is made up of the informal sector. for years a small number of people connected to the ruling family crowded out the competition. after they left, the rules became more relaxed. the tunisian government says it's trying to make things fairer but insists vendors who don't join the system are

criminals. one nonprofit organization is encouraging street sellers to become legal. >> we don't have social security, no medical care, we need to have access to finances. so if they move to formality, they will have benefits of all of this. >> reporter: but people like him need more convincing. tends of the day, he's barely earned the minimum wage. paying for social security and taxes would leave him with almost nothing. so for many here, illegal street selling isn't just a way of life, it is the only way to survive. al jazerra, tunisia. al jazerra is demanding the lease of its three journalists, jailed in egypt. bahar mohamed, and peter greste have been in prison for 239 days, they are falsely accused of helping the outlawed muslim brotherhood in june they were given seven year sentences. mohamed got an extra three years because he had a spent bullet in his possession which he had picked up at a protest.

now, lawyers for the three men have filed appeals against their convictions. thousands of protesters have marched in the u.s. city of ferguson in missouri to mark two weeks since police shot and killed an unarmed black teenager. several other demonstrations took place in new york, washington, to protest against alleged police brutality. in st. louis, though, a counter rally was held in support of the police officer who shot michael brown. now, andy gallagher has more on what one white community is reacting to the shooting. >> reporter: snow day at the farmer's market, this small city is just 20 minutes drive from ferguson, but feels like a world away. population is overwhelmingly white and has some of the highest incomes in the state. and whilst most are aware of the death of michael brown and the international attention it's garnered, reaction to events down the road are somewhat

muted. >> we see it on the news, on our facebook news, sites, but other than that, it's minimal topic of discussion. >> i knew that it was probably going to, you know, bother people for a while, i didn't know to this extent for sure. but, you know, it was just kind of a frustration that we are still having these issues. >> reporter: in ferguson a similar market aims to replace food families can no longer buy after local shops were looted and burned and here people are coming together to help. but it's the experience of living in mostly divided communities that has raised the issue you of race. >> it's all pretty sad. i am hoping it's over with over here. >> reporter: gary has been cutting hair in nearby clayton for almost 50 years. while the he' he has followed es closely he sees nothing wrong with the way things are. >> they don't play around with the blacks over here, these cops you see them all the time pulling the cars over. so that tells me that they have

an expired license plate, that would be number one. >> reporter: you don't think it's racial profiling in any way? >> no. no. they are just doing their job. that's what their job is. >> reporter: this is delmar boulevard in st. louis, viewed by many as a racial dividing line between the poor black communities to the north, and the wealthy neighborhoods that are white to the south it isn't perhaps surprising that among whites the vents in ferguson are viewed with indifference and a belief that justice will prevail. as long as the living here remains this stark, change will be hard to cop. andy gallagher, st. louis, missouri. next month fiji holes an election the first since 2006. where the self appointed coup leader is hoping to win a democrat i can vote. andrew thomas has more from sydney. >> reporter: fiji's prime minister had promise said an

open forum, he would take any questions, but not it seemed from opponents. frank had made the trip to sydney to campaign for the votes of the few thousand fijians living abroad. though you took power in all coup he's looking for legitimacy in an election in mid september. but will it be a fair one. fijians living in exile in all, a doubt it. >> i don't think it will be fair. as to free, that remains to be seen because of the intimidation that is exercised by him and people that are connected with him. >> reporter: outside the venue for the rally, confusion. >> this is a public bloody thing. >> what happened? >> we are coming in. >> reporter: the meeting is' organizers have told members of the media where it was being held and when, free media coverage is one test of the election, but with protesters around, journalists were suddenly barred. >> you are saying at the last moment no media coverage

whatsoever. >> that's what he said. who? >> mr. p.m. >> reporter: two newspaper journalists were eventually allowed in. an australian tv crew too, though when their journalist asked a question they didn't like they were asked to me. this was public to. [speaking at the same time] [speaking at the same time] >> you will will be arrested as you have been given warning for this. >> reporter: inside this footage is from a camera that was smuggled in. the questions were mostly from committed supporters who emerged enthusiastic. >> it was really, really very positive. and the things he is going to be doing if he's elected is really positive. >> it will be a landslide victory for him. >> why? >> because the people love him. and we love him. >> reporter: in fiji, roads and services have improved since he took power. many welcome the undoubted stability and prosperity he's

brought. but as the prime minister left his sydney rail, his refusal to take questions from anyone except his supporters did not, say some, bode well for the election. and you can follow all of the stories that we are covering here on al jazerra by logging on to the website aljazerra.com. in india, a woman's fate can take a cruel twist when her husband dies. >> they would beat me, both my daughter in law and my son would beat me.