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Israeli troops, militants battle in Gaza suburb

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-11 20:11

GAZA CITY – Israeli troops battled Palestinian gunmen in a suburb of Gaza City Sunday in one of the fiercest ground battles so far as Israel's military inched toward Gaza's population centers and residents braced for an expansion of the offensive.

An Israeli fighter plane releases a flare as it flies over Gaza City, January 11, 2009. [Agencies]

The fighting in the Sheikh Ajleen neighborhood erupted before dawn and continued into the morning as Israeli infantrymen and tanks advanced toward Gaza City and its approximately 400,000 residents, Palestinian witnesses said. Hamas and the smaller militant group Islamic Jihad said they ambushed the Israelis, leading to some of the heaviest fighting since Israel sent ground forces into the coastal territory on Jan. 3.

Israel launched its offensive against Hamas on Dec. 27 in an attempt to halt years of rocket fire from Gaza at Israeli towns. Gaza health officials have counted more than 820 Palestinians dead and say at least half are civilians. Thirteen Israelis have died, three of them civilians.

A rocket, fired by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip towards Israel, is seen from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip, January 11, 2009. [Agencies]

"Israel is nearing the goals which it set itself, but more patience, determination and effort is still demanded," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said ahead of his government's weekly meeting Sunday.

The UN Security Council called for an immediate cease-fire Thursday, but Olmert said Israel "never agreed that anyone would decide for us if it is permissible to strike at those who send bombs against our kindergartens and schools."

Hamas, the Islamic group whose government controls Gaza, likewise has ignored the resolution, complaining that it was not consulted.

Israel dropped leaflets on Gaza on Saturday warning of a wider offensive.

"The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) is not working against the people of Gaza but against Hamas and the terrorists only," the leaflets said in Arabic. "Stay safe by following our orders."

Israeli defense officials say they are prepared for a third stage of their offensive, in which ground troops would push further into Gaza, but are waiting for approval from the government. The first phase was a massive aerial bombardment, and the second saw ground forces enter Gaza, seize open areas used to fire rockets and surround Gaza City.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because military plans have not been made public, said the army also has a contingency plan for a fourth phase — the full reoccupation of Gaza and toppling of Hamas.

At least 14 people were killed in Sunday's fighting in and around Sheikh Ajleen, Palestinian health officials said. How many were militants and how many civilians was not immediately known. There was no word on Israeli casualties.

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