After the first day of ground activity in Operation Cast Lead, the IDF has effectively cut Gaza into two.
The IDF has divided the Gaza Strip into two segments, in a move apparently aimed at cutting off the flow of arms, supplies and fighters to the northern Strip, as tanks were seen in the area of former Israeli settlement Netzarim and troops reportedly reached the outskirts of Gaza City on Sunday morning.Hamas is claiming to have killed dozens of IDF soldiers, but instead they have killed 35 members of Fatah and placed many more under house arrest. Taking on a standing army is difficult, shooting unarmed civilians a lot easier.
According to Israel Radio, eye witnesses told Arab media that IDF tanks and bulldozers were seen in the area between Gaza City and Netzarim.British Sky News channel also reported that some 150 IDF tanks had arrived in the Netzarim area.
On Saturday night, 30 IDF soldiers were wounded in clashes with Palestinian gunmen, encountering fierce resistance from Hamas forces entrenched in fortifications just over the border.
The IAF bombed some 45 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, including seven tunnels, several mortar firing cells and Kassam rocket launching cells.
Dozens of Hamas gunmen were reported killed by IDF troops.
IDF sources said that the immediate goal was to conquer territory in northern Gaza, including rocket launch sites. Soldiers from the Armored Corps, Engineering Corps, and Paratroopers, Givati, Golani brigades were participating in the fighting, with at least four brigades' worth of troops inside the Gaza Strip.
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From IDF Spokesman
My prayers go out to the families of these wounded soldiers. The men and women of the IDF do not relish war, did not want to go to war, prayed for peace. But this war was thrust upon them by the unrelenting rocket attacks by Hamas. Attacks that continued every day for 8 years. Attacks that even continued during the so-called 6 month truce. Attacks that are going on today as I write this.
The IDF operation continued overnight (Jan.3), with large infantry, tank, engineering, artillery and intelligence forces operating throughout the Gaza Strip, along with the assistance of the Israel Air Force and the Israel Navy.
During exchanges of fire overnight (Jan.3), dozens of armed Hamas operatives were hit by the IDF. IAF planes struck over 45 targets including tunnels, weapons storage facilities, mortar shell launching squads, and a number of mortar shell launching sites.
Israel Navy boats assisted the ground forces and attacked a number of targets including the Hamas intelligence headquarters in Gaza City, rocket launching areas, and Hamas marine force outposts.
An IDF officer and an IDF soldier were severely wounded during the night. The families of the injured officer and soldier have been notified.
In addition, 28 other soldiers were injured moderately and lightly. The soldiers received initial medical treatment at the scene and were transported to the hospital for further treatment.
IDF spokesman Capt. Benjamin Rutland provides an update on IDF activities in Gaza.
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