Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                          Israeli Commandos Enter Gaza

   by Gabe Joselow

   Israel has carried out its first ground operation against Hamas
   militants in the Gaza Strip since launching an offensive against the
   militants last week.

   Officials say Israeli commandos targeted a rocket-launching site Sunday
   during the brief raid.  Authorities say four Israeli soldiers were
   slightly wounded during an exchange of gunfire with Palestinian
   fighters.

   Israel also continued its airstrikes targeting areas across Gaza early
   Sunday, ignoring international appeals for a cease-fire as the conflict
   entered its sixth day.

   An Israel strike overnight flattened the home of the Gaza police chief,
   killing 18 people in the deadliest attack since Israel launched its
   offensive on Gaza Tuesday. The strike also badly damaged a nearby
   mosque, wounding scores of people.  Some worshippers are still believed
   to be trapped in the rubble.

   An earlier airstrike Saturday also hit a mosque. Israeli Defense Forces
   spokesperson Lieutenant Libby Weiss says the building was being used by
   Hamas militants.

   "It's important to note that this was a mosque that was used almost
   entirely for Hamas operations. Meaning as a structure perhaps yes it
   was a mosque but it was very clear that it was being used, and I would
   say almost hijacked by Hamas for terror purposes," Weiss said.

   The United Nations humanitarian affairs office has said the majority of
   Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes since operations began have been
   civilians.

   Several Israeli citizens have been wounded by Palestinian rockets,
   which are being launched at longer range than in previous conflicts.
   Israeli defense forces credit their Iron Dome missile defense system,
   which intercepts rockets in mid-air, with preventing greater
   casualties.

   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday Israel is
   considering all military options despite international calls for a
   cease-fire.

   Britain, France and Turkey have expressed concerns about the loss of
   life in Gaza. U.S. President Barack Obama says the U.S. is willing to
   help facilitate a cessation of hostilities, while backing "Israel's
   right to defend itself."

   Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi, head of a Palestinian academic society in
   Jerusalem (PASSIA), says both Israeli and Palestinian leadership have
   shown little willingness to back down.

   "Netanyahu is refusing any reconciliation, any negotiations, any
   halting of the operations and he is carrying on the mission as usual,"
   Hadi said. "The same thing, Hamas is going forward as planned, saying
   whatever will happen will happen to all of us."

   Israel claims to have hit more than 1,100 targets inside Gaza since
   operations began. The military has called up more than 30,000
   reservists and is now weighing whether to begin ground operations in
   Gaza.

   UN calls for cease-fire

   The U.N. Security Council has called for a cease-fire in the
   Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza
   for a fifth day.

   In a statement Saturday, the 15-member council called for a
   de-escalation of the violence, a restoration of calm, and a
   reinstitution of a 2012 Egyptian-brokered cease-fire between the two
   sides.

   This is the first official response to the crisis by the powerful U.N.
   body, which has been divided on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

   Palestinian officials say the death toll from Israel's offensive has
   risen to about 150, with Israel continuing to strike sites believed to
   be strategic to Hamas and other militant groups.

   WATCH: Gaza Fighting Takes Civilian Toll - report by Zlatica Hoke

   ''Some information for this report comes from AP, AFP and Reuters.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/israels-deadly-gaza-offensive-continu
   es/1956123.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/israels-deadly-gaza-offensive-continues/1956123.html