PALESTINIAN DEATH TOLL TOPS 900: GAZA OFFICIAL

AZG Armenian Daily
13/01/2009

Middle East Crisis

Israeli troops fought gun battles with Hamas fighters on Monday,
keeping military pressure on the Islamist group while avoiding all-out
urban warfare that would complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts to
end the Gaza war.

Medical officials said the Palestinian death toll in the offensive
Israel began 17 days ago had risen past 900 and included at least 380
civilians. Israel says three Israeli civilians, hit by Hamas rockets,
and 10 soldiers have died.

Along battle lines in the suburbs of the rubble-strewn city of Gaza,
Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants engaged in more fierce fighting.

Residents and local journalists said Israeli troops and tanks had
taken up positions in open areas, seeking to penetrate guerrilla
defenses in built-up zones that included booby-traps, snipers and
fighters with rocket-propelled grenades.

Among targets hit by air strikes were the homes of more Hamas leaders,
which Israel said contained weapons stores.

But Israeli forces were still holding back from a threatened third
stage of their deadliest assault on Palestinian militants in decades
a push into the city of Gaza and other urban areas to add more punch
to an air campaign and ground offensive.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a candidate for prime minister in
a February 10 election, said the surprise bombing of the Gaza Strip
at the start of operations on December 27 and an armored thrust a
week later "restored Israel’s deterrence."

Morning radio programs in Israel, however, continued to be interrupted
by announcements of "Color Red" alerts, heralding rocket attacks
on towns where residents have only seconds to find shelter before
salvoes hit. Ten rockets landed in the first half of the day, the
army said. No one was hurt.

The Israeli military said its aircraft carried out more than 25
attacks, fewer than on many previous days.

Medical workers said Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians, including
at least five civilians, in Monday’s violence.

The Palestinian death toll since Israel’s "Operation Cast Lead" began
stood at 909, Gaza medical officials said. About 3,600 Palestinians
have been wounded, Reuters reported.