Israeli tanks, troops enter Gaza

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 | Presstv.ir

Israeli ground forces have crossed the border with the Gaza Strip, starting a new phase of Operation Cast Lead, an army spokeswoman says. Major Avital Leibovitch, the spokeswoman, said the Israeli army aims to take control of some areas in the coastal sliver. "The objective is to destroy the Hamas terror infrastructure in the area of operations," she was quoted by Reuters as saying. Witnesses said the forces entered the beleaguered region from the north. The incursion follows the heavy bombing and shelling of the Gaza Strip on Saturday. At least 460 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the offensive, while some 2,300 others are reported wounded. In retaliation to the attacks, the Hamas movement has continued its attacks launch from the Gaza Strip. Six people have been killed and 18 wounded in retaliatory rocket fire by Hamas. The strip has been under an Israeli blockade since the Hamas movement won a majority in the 2006 Palestinian election and took control of the area in mid-June 2007.