Israel threatens escalation in Gaza

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-11-2009 08:44

In the Middle East Israel sent tanks deeper into Gaza on Saturday, and threatens to intensify its campaign while ignoring international calls to stop. Hamas also rejects a cease-fire and its members continue to fire rockets into Israel.

Israel threatens escalation in Gaza

The Israeli army intensified its air and ground strikes on different targets in Gaza, killing 31 Palestinians and wounding more than 60 others during the day.

The Israeli threat to launch a "new phase" in its offensive that's killed more than 800 Palestinians comes in defiance of international calls for a cease fire.

There's no immediate sign of escalation but witnesses say Israeli troops moved to within one mile of Gaza City on Saturday before pulling back slightly.

Hamas launched 15 rockets at southern Israel in a daily ritual that's severely disrupted life for hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians. Three Israelis were injured in the city of Ashkelon.

In the day's bloodiest incident, an Israeli tank shell landed outside a home in Jebaliya, killing nine people. In Rafah, a woman was killed by an Israeli airstrike.

Israel says more than 15 militants were killed in earlier fighting overnight.

Its aircraft attacked more than 40 targets, striking 10 rocket-launching sites, weapons-storage facilities, smuggling tunnels, an anti-aircraft missile launcher and gunmen.

Israel faces international criticism for the rising number of civilians killed in the fighting.

Editor:Shi Taoyang