Israel begins sending reservists into Gaza: report
Israel seems close to ending Gaza war: minister
Israel appears to be nearing the end of its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnai told public radio on Sunday. "The decision of the (UN) security council doesn't give us much leeway," he said. "Thus it would seem that we are close to ending the ground operation and ending the operation altogether." The 16-day-old offensive has "allowed us to reach objectives that no-one could have dreamed about two weeks ago. Regarding the blow to Hamas: they still don't understand what has hit them: they will understand better when they come out of their hiding places," said Vilnai. Earlier Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the Jewish state was nearing the goals it had set for Operation Cast Lead, but said fighting would continue for the time being. The UN Security Council last Thursday passed a resolution ordering Israel and Hamas to halt fighting, but both parties have shrugged off the appeal. |
by Staff Writers
Jerusalem (AFP) Jan 11, 2009
Israel has begun sending reservists into the Gaza Strip to participate in operations alongside the regular army in a massive ground operation launched more than a week ago, Israel's Channel Two reported.
Israel called up thouands of reservists on December 27 after it launched a massive air, naval, and land bombardment of the Hamas-ruled territory in a bid to halt Palestinian rocket and mortar attacks on southern Israel.
A military spokesman said reservists had already been involved in Gaza operations and were increasingly likely to be "integrated" into combat units.
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Israel pounds Gaza City after warning of escalation
Gaza City (AFP) Jan 11, 2009
Tanks and warplanes pounded the outskirts of Gaza City before dawn on Sunday after Israel warned it would escalate its war on Hamas targets, as the death toll in the 16-day-old conflict passed 850.
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