A view of the airstrikes in Gaza from the Israeli side of the border. Israeli officials said they want to strike a hard blow against Hamas. Photo: Moises Saman for The New York TimesIsraeli Troops Advance, Bisecting Gaza -- New York Times
GAZA — Israeli troops advanced into Gaza on Sunday under cover of heavy air, tank and artillery fire after opening a ground war against the militant group Hamas on Saturday night.
Witnesses said the Israeli forces had punched across Gaza, bisecting its northern and southern parts, and had taken over certain strategic areas, including what the military has described as rocket launching sites.
The ground campaign came after a week of intense airstrikes. Israel’s stated goal was to destroy the infrastructure of Hamas, the Islamic group that controls Gaza’s government, and to significantly decrease the threat to southern Israel from Palestinian rocket fire.
In a telephone briefing for a group of foreign correspondents, a senior Israeli military official said that Israeli troops would hold the areas they have taken inside Gaza at least for the duration of the operation to prevent militants from returning to fire rockets from there.
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More News On The Israel Hamas War
Israeli forces bisect Gaza, surround biggest city -- Yahoo News/AP
Civilian toll rises as Israelis, Hamas fight in Gaza -- Yahoo News/Reuters
Israeli troops battle Hamas as Gaza war toll mounts -- Yahoo News/AFP
Dozens of Gazans killed in Israeli ground assault -- AFP
Hamas urges unconditional Palestinian dialogue -- AFP
IDF Divides Gaza Strip into Several Segments -- Jerusalem Post
Israeli Forces Enter Gaza Strip -- Washington Post
Israeli Troops Cross Gaza Border -- Wall Street Journal
Israeli Troops Launch Attack on Gaza -- New York Times
Israeli Forces Seeking Gaza Missile Sites -- Washington Times
Israel Pushes Ground Battle into Gaza -- Los Angeles Times
Israeli Troops Invade Gaza, Fighting Continues -- Voice Of America
Battles Rage Between Israeli Ground Troops and Hamas -- The Times
Israeli Tanks Roll into Gaza to Destroy Hamas Rockets -- Daily Telegraph
Israeli Troops Enter Gaza Strip -- BBC News
Invading Israeli Troops Battle Hamas -- Agence France-Presse
Tens of thousands of IDF combat reservists called up -- Jerusalem Post
Security Council: No Agreement on Gaza -- Agence France-Presse
US Blocks UNSC Action on Gaza Strip -- Jerusalem Post
Attack Begins Amid Diplomatic Deadlock -- Jerusalem Post
Gaza civilians left exposed in Israeli invasion -- Yahoo News/AP
Israel Enters Gaza: Negotiating With Extreme Prejudice -- Time Magazine
Analysis, Editorials, And Commentary
Escalation in Gaza -- Washington Post editorial
Is the Real Target Hamas Rule? -- New York Times
Invasion Offers Benefits but Also Risks to Both Sides -- Washington Post
The New Meaning of an Old Battle in the Mideast -- New York Times
Attacks Further Split Arab Rulers, People -- Washington Post
Israel Has No Tactics for Peace -- The Guardian
Can Sarkozy Deliver Middle East Truce? -- Time
Hamas Rockets Block the Birth of a Palestinian State -- Daily Telegraph editorial
Hamas damages Palestinian cause -- Miami Herald
For Obama, a Tough Page to Turn -- Washington Post opinion
Bracing for What's Next -- Washington Post opinion
Wary Obama will Make the Middle East Wait -- The Times opinion
Why My Son Has to Fight -- Washington Post opinion