An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires a shell towards Gaza from its position outside the central Gaza Strip January 3, 2009. Israeli artillery cannons shelled the Gaza Strip on Saturday, witnesses on both sides of the border said, heralding a possible escalation to a new tactic in more than a week of fighting. (Baz Ratner/Reuters)Soldiers Exchange Fire With Hamas Gunmen Inside Strip
-- Jerusalem Post
-- Jerusalem Post
For the first time since the start of Operation Cast Lead, IDF ground troops entered the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening, exchanging fire with Hamas gunmen.
The IDF said that a large amount of troops from the Armored Corps, Engineering Corps and Infantry Corps entered the territory with the purpose of destroying Hamas infrastructure and preventing rocket fire by taking control of launching pads "in order to greatly reduce the quantity of rockets fired at Israel and Israeli civilians."
The IDF warned that terrorists using civilians as human shields would bear full responsibility for their fate. The IDF spokesperson emphasized that "anyone who hides a terrorist or weapons in his house is considered a terrorist," adding that "the residents of Gaza are not the target of the operation."
The army reiterated that the operation was in line with "decisions of the Security Cabinet," saying that this stage of the operation was "part of the IDF's overall operational plan, and will continue on the basis of ongoing situational assessments by the IDF General Staff."
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More News On The Israel Hamas War
Israeli ground forces enter Gaza in escalation -- Yahoo News/AP
Israeli mobilises thousands as troops, tanks enter Gaza -- Yahoo News/AFP
Israel to 'take over' rocket launching areas in Gaza: PM office -- Breitbart/AFP
Israeli ground troops enter Gaza -- CNN
Israeli troops 'move into Gaza'-- BBC
Israeli military: Troops cross Gaza border -- MSNBC
Israeli army starts ground operation into Gaza Strip --China View
Israel begins Gaza ground offensive -- Al Jazeera
Israeli Ground Forces Cross Border Into Gaza Strip -- FOX News
Israeli Ground Forces Push Into Gaza -- New York Times
My Comment: 500 killed and 2300 wounded after one week of bombing. With tanks rolling in this toll is now going to escalate upwards very fast.