Israeli forces yesterday pounded dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip and dropped leaflets warning of an escalation in attacks, as southern Israel came under renewed Palestinian rocket fire. Last night, as flames and smoke rose over Gaza City, speculation grew that Israel was about to launch the so-called third stage of its offensive: the forcible entry into Gaza City by thousands of troops. In response, Hamas said that the Gaza offensive had "killed the last chance for settlement and negotiation with Israel". Earlier yesterday, Israeli aircraft attacked more than 40 targets throughout Gaza, striking 10 rocket-launching sites, weapons-storage facilities, smuggling tunnels, an anti-aircraft missile launcher and gunmen. And civilians.
Israeli forces yesterday pounded dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip and dropped leaflets warning of an escalation in attacks, as southern Israel came under renewed Palestinian rocket fire. Last night, as flames and smoke rose over Gaza City, speculation grew that Israel was about to launch the so-called third stage of its offensive: the forcible entry into Gaza City by thousands of troops.
In response, Hamas said that the Gaza offensive had "killed the last chance for settlement and negotiation with Israel". Earlier yesterday, Israeli aircraft attacked more than 40 targets throughout Gaza, striking 10 rocket-launching sites, weapons-storage facilities, smuggling tunnels, an anti-aircraft missile launcher and gunmen. And civilians.
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces pushed into the Gaza Strip's most populous area on Sunday, killing at least 31 Palestinians on the 16th day of a devastating offensive Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said was close to achieving its aims. An Israeli military spokesman said army reservists, held back until now, had been thrown into the battle. "We have begun to integrate reservist forces into the action in the Gaza Strip," Avi Benayahu said on Israel's Channel 2 TV. "We aren't acting in panic, but cautiously."
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces pushed into the Gaza Strip's most populous area on Sunday, killing at least 31 Palestinians on the 16th day of a devastating offensive Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said was close to achieving its aims.
An Israeli military spokesman said army reservists, held back until now, had been thrown into the battle.
"We have begun to integrate reservist forces into the action in the Gaza Strip," Avi Benayahu said on Israel's Channel 2 TV. "We aren't acting in panic, but cautiously."
GAZA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Israeli forces edged into the Gaza Strip's most populous area on Sunday, killing at least 27 Palestinians in an offensive stepped up in defiance of international calls for a ceasefire. Medical officials said about half of the Palestinian dead in the latest fighting in the Hamas-ruled territory were civilians. "Israel is getting close to achieving the goals it set for itself," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his cabinet in Jerusalem, giving no timeframe for an end to the 16-day-long war. "But patience, determination and effort are still needed to realise these goals in a manner that will change the security situation in the south," Olmert said, referring to Hamas rocket attacks that continued to hit Israeli towns.
Israel is close to achieving its military goals in Gaza, the Israeli prime minister said today, as the army pressed on with its attacks and fierce fighting took place on the outskirts of Gaza City."Israel is getting close to achieving the goals it set for itself," Ehud Olmert told his cabinet in Jerusalem, though he gave no indication that the campaign was drawing to an end."Patience, determination and effort are still needed to realise these goals in a manner that will change the security situation in the south," Olmert said.Earlier, the leader of Hamas warned that Israel's offensive in Gaza had ended any chance for broader peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
Israel is close to achieving its military goals in Gaza, the Israeli prime minister said today, as the army pressed on with its attacks and fierce fighting took place on the outskirts of Gaza City.
"Israel is getting close to achieving the goals it set for itself," Ehud Olmert told his cabinet in Jerusalem, though he gave no indication that the campaign was drawing to an end.
"Patience, determination and effort are still needed to realise these goals in a manner that will change the security situation in the south," Olmert said.
Earlier, the leader of Hamas warned that Israel's offensive in Gaza had ended any chance for broader peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
Israeli ground troops moved into the outskirts of southern Gaza City Sunday morning, sparking fire-fights with Palestinian militants as they edged closer to densely-populated areas, witnesses said. Israeli infantry units backed by tanks pushed deeper into Gaza's main city overnight near the southern Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, encountering roadside bombs, mortar and gunfire from Palestinian fighters, witnesses said. The troops withdrew at daybreak, but panicked residents fled from the area, clutching babies, toddlers and hurriedly-packed bags after a sleepless night that saw some of the fiercest confrontations so far, witnesses said. Some 12 Palestinian gunmen were reportedly killed in the clashes, once the Israeli tanks and infantry pulled back from the Sheikh Ajleen neighborhood to the former Israeli settlement of Netzarim, south of Gaza City.
Israeli infantry units backed by tanks pushed deeper into Gaza's main city overnight near the southern Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, encountering roadside bombs, mortar and gunfire from Palestinian fighters, witnesses said.
The troops withdrew at daybreak, but panicked residents fled from the area, clutching babies, toddlers and hurriedly-packed bags after a sleepless night that saw some of the fiercest confrontations so far, witnesses said.
Some 12 Palestinian gunmen were reportedly killed in the clashes, once the Israeli tanks and infantry pulled back from the Sheikh Ajleen neighborhood to the former Israeli settlement of Netzarim, south of Gaza City.
Cities around the world were braced Sunday for fresh rallies both in support of and in opposition to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip as the bombing campaign entered its third week. More than 1,000 students and ethnic minorities took to the streets of Hong Kong in a protest organized on social networking website Facebook. The group, holding placards and banners, marched from Victoria Park to the US consulate general demanding the United States stop supporting Israel's deadliest assault yet on impoverished Gaza. "We are not here to blame. We just want both sides to stop fighting on humanitarian grounds," said Christopher Ma, a student at University of Hong Kong who initiated the protest with his classmate, Felix Lam. "We want Hong Kong people to know what is happening out there," Ma told reporters.
More than 1,000 students and ethnic minorities took to the streets of Hong Kong in a protest organized on social networking website Facebook.
The group, holding placards and banners, marched from Victoria Park to the US consulate general demanding the United States stop supporting Israel's deadliest assault yet on impoverished Gaza.
"We are not here to blame. We just want both sides to stop fighting on humanitarian grounds," said Christopher Ma, a student at University of Hong Kong who initiated the protest with his classmate, Felix Lam.
"We want Hong Kong people to know what is happening out there," Ma told reporters.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said Israel is nearing the goals of its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, as he signalled it would continue. He urged more patience and effort, as Israel's troops reportedly engaged in fierce fighting in Gaza City. The Israeli army said reserve units were in place in Gaza, but this did not signal a "new push" against militants. Palestinian medics say 879 people have been killed during the 16-day conflict. Thirteen Israelis have died. Palestinian sources said 29 people were killed across Gaza on Sunday - 17 in Gaza City. Israeli officials said at least 12 rockets were fired by Palestinian militants into southern Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said Israel is nearing the goals of its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, as he signalled it would continue.
He urged more patience and effort, as Israel's troops reportedly engaged in fierce fighting in Gaza City.
The Israeli army said reserve units were in place in Gaza, but this did not signal a "new push" against militants.
Palestinian medics say 879 people have been killed during the 16-day conflict. Thirteen Israelis have died.
Palestinian sources said 29 people were killed across Gaza on Sunday - 17 in Gaza City.
Israeli officials said at least 12 rockets were fired by Palestinian militants into southern Israel.
It's another thing entirely to make peace. Military victories are political defeats. keep to the Fen Causeway
even the US seems to be losing its addiction to fear, shame the israelis haven't. keep to the Fen Causeway
