Israelis Push in, Tighten Hold on Gaza

Israelis Push in, Tighten Hold on Gaza
January 05, 2009
Agence France-Presse

Israeli warplanes carried out intensive raids on Hamas targets today as ground troops surrounded Gaza's main city, while Israel faced mounting diplomatic pressure for a ceasefire.

The senior Hamas leader in Gaza promised "victory is coming" for the Islamist group, but Israel's defence minister said "we have hit Hamas hard" while insisting the operation to halt Hamas rocket attacks would continue.

Israel, under pressure over the mounting toll on civilians, agreed to let food and fuel into Gaza but about 200 trucks were stuck at the border as the military said no one turned up to receive the supplies.

Thousands of ground troops intensified their move into the Palestinian enclave of 1.5 million people, battling Hamas fighters in the east of the territory as they tightened their grip around Gaza City.

Israeli jets carried out more than 30 air strikes. The military said they hit a mosque in the northern town of Jabaliya "where arms were being stored, as well as houses containing arms caches and vehicles that were transporting rocket launchers and armed men."


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