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Israeli troops fight in Gaza City Israeli troops fight in Gaza City
(about 1 hour later)
Israeli soldiers have clashed with Palestinian gunmen on the outskirts of Gaza City, as Israel's cabinet said it would continue its offensive.Israeli soldiers have clashed with Palestinian gunmen on the outskirts of Gaza City, as Israel's cabinet said it would continue its offensive.
Overnight Israeli warplanes launched 60 air strikes and militants fired a barrage of rockets at southern Israel.Overnight Israeli warplanes launched 60 air strikes and militants fired a barrage of rockets at southern Israel.
About 850 Gazans and 13 Israelis have reportedly died in 16 days of fighting.About 850 Gazans and 13 Israelis have reportedly died in 16 days of fighting.
Meanwhile, Israeli army has denied illegally using weapons after claims it deployed white phosphorus bombs on civilians in Gaza. Meanwhile, the Israeli army has denied illegally using weapons after claims it deployed white phosphorus bombs on civilians in Gaza.
Army spokesman Capt Guy Spigelman told the BBC that Israel "categorically denied" using the munition in Gaza, saying other "smoke bombs and flares" were being used.
Offensive to go onOffensive to go on
As Israeli's cabinet met in Jerusalem to consider its next move, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert signalled that the operation would continue. As Israel's cabinet met in Jerusalem to consider its next move, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert signalled that the operation would continue.
"This is a time to translate our achievements into the goals we have set," he said at the start of the meeting, reported AFP news agency.
"Israel is approaching these goals, but more patience and determination are required in order to reach these goals."
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The BBC's Mike Sergeant in Jerusalem says Israeli commanders are said to be getting impatient as the government ponders its next move. "This is a time to translate our achievements into the goals we have set," he said at the start of the meeting.
"Israel is approaching these goals, but more patience and determination are required in order to reach these goals."
The BBC's Mike Sergeant in Jerusalem says Israeli commanders are thought to be getting impatient as the government ponders its next move.
Israel unleashed its Operation Cast Lead on 27 December as a six-month truce between it and Hamas unravelled. It comes weeks before a parliamentary election in Israel.Israel unleashed its Operation Cast Lead on 27 December as a six-month truce between it and Hamas unravelled. It comes weeks before a parliamentary election in Israel.
Israel hopes the onslaught will greatly reduce the number of missiles fired from Gaza onto Israeli towns, and also erode support for Hamas.Israel hopes the onslaught will greatly reduce the number of missiles fired from Gaza onto Israeli towns, and also erode support for Hamas.
The Islamist movement won elections in Gaza in 2006 before seizing control of the coastal strip a year later, ousting its secular Palestinian rival Fatah, which now holds sway in parts of the West Bank.The Islamist movement won elections in Gaza in 2006 before seizing control of the coastal strip a year later, ousting its secular Palestinian rival Fatah, which now holds sway in parts of the West Bank.
Palestinian medical officials say at least 10 people have died in Sunday's fighting. On Sunday two rockets launched by militants in Gaza struck 42 km (26 miles) inside southern Israel at the city of Beersheba, causing damage but no casualties.
Meanwhile, Palestinian medical officials said at least 10 people had died in fighting.
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Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip, and none of the figures can be independently confirmed.
In the north of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian doctors said Israeli tank fire had killed at least five civilians in Beit Lahiya.In the north of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian doctors said Israeli tank fire had killed at least five civilians in Beit Lahiya.
Two rockets launched by militants in Gaza struck 42 km (26 miles) inside southern Israel at the city of Beersheba, causing damage but no casualties.
The home of Ahmed Jabari, the head of Hamas's military wing, was destroyed in an air strike at Shujaia, a suburb of densely-populated Gaza City, according to the Israeli military.The home of Ahmed Jabari, the head of Hamas's military wing, was destroyed in an air strike at Shujaia, a suburb of densely-populated Gaza City, according to the Israeli military.
Israel said its warplanes had also bombed sites on the Egypt-Gaza frontier near the town of Rafah, including a mosque allegedly used as a weapons storage depot and militant training camp.Israel said its warplanes had also bombed sites on the Egypt-Gaza frontier near the town of Rafah, including a mosque allegedly used as a weapons storage depot and militant training camp.
Its ground forces were involved in a "number of incidents" as they pushed into the south of densely-populated Gaza City and reached a key junction to its north, the Israeli military said. 'Ambush'
The strikes came hours after Israel dropped leaflets and left phone messages warning Gazans to stay away from areas used by Hamas and saying its operation would soon enter "phase three". Its ground forces were involved in a "number of incidents" as they pushed into the south of Gaza City and reached a key junction to its north, the Israeli military said.
Israel is preventing international journalists from entering the coastal strip, and none of the figures can be independently confirmed. class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/7812136.stm">Gaza offensive - in maps class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7822656.stm">UK Jews demand Israeli ceasefire class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7819261.stm">Gaza survivors' accounts
Reports quoted Hamas and the smaller militant group Islamic Jihad as saying they had ambushed the Israelis, engaging them in heavy fighting.
Many Gaza City civilians have reportedly fled their homes.
Israel dropped leaflets and left phone messages on Saturday warning Gazans to stay away from areas used by Hamas and that the operation would soon enter "phase three".
On Sunday pro-Palestine demonstrations continued across the parts of the Far East and Middle East.
Speaking from exile in the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal branded the Israeli operation a "holocaust," saying "the enemy has totally failed" and "created resistance in every house".
Israel and Hamas have both ignored a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Aid agencies say Gaza's 1.5 million residents are in urgent need of food and medical aid.