Israel prepares to step up Gaza offensive
Israel stepped up its attacks on Gaza today as it considered whether to escalate its devastating two-week offensive.
But despite the tightening Israeli cordon Hamas militants still managed to fire a rocket which struck near the southern town of Kiryat Gat but caused no casualties.
The army announced yesterday that it had begun sending reserve units into Gaza to assist thousands of ground forces already in the territory, a strong signal it is planning to step up the offensive, which has already killed 870 Palestinians. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers, have also died.
With Israeli troops already surrounding Gaza’s main population centres, Israeli leaders have given mixed signals on how much further the army is ready to push, saying the operation is close to achieving its goals but vowing to press forward with overwhelming force.
Israeli leaders are expected to decide in the next day or two on whether to push the offensive into a third phase – in which the army takes over larger areas of Gaza. This move would require the use of thousands of reserve units massed on the border with Gaza.
A push into densely crowded urban areas would threaten the lives of many more civilians. More than 20,000 Palestinians have already fled Gaza’s rural border areas and crowded into nearby towns, staying with relatives and at UN schools turned into makeshift shelters.
Israeli security officials believe they have struck hard at Hamas, killing hundreds of the Islamic militant group’s fighters, including top commanders. The director of the Shin Bet security agency told the Cabinet on Sunday that Hamas leaders in Gaza are ready to surrender.
The army also says Hamas has been avoiding set battles against the advancing Israelis, resorting instead to guerrilla tactics as its fighters melt into crowded residential areas.
An army spokeswoman said residential districts in Gaza were riddled with booby traps and explosives, and in some cases dummies were placed at apartment entrances to simulate militants and rigged to explode if soldiers approach.
Hamas has vowed to continue fighting.
Israeli ground forces made their deepest foray yet into Gaza City yesterday with tanks rolling into streets supported by infantry.
The army “is advancing more into urban areas,” the spokeswoman said. “Since the majority of the Hamas militants are pretty much in hiding in those places, mainly urban places, then we operate in those areas.”
International aid groups have repeatedly said Israel must do more to protect Palestinian civilians, who are believed to make up about half of the dead.
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