Israel in 'all-out war' with Gaza

29/12/2008| IslamWeb

Israel's military is in an "all-out war" with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Ehud Barak, the defense minister, says.

 

Palestinian medical sources say at least 345 Gazans have been killed and another 1,450 wounded in three consecutive days of Israeli bombardment in the heavily-populated territory.

 

"We have nothing against Gaza residents, but we are engaged in an all-out war against Hamas and its proxies," Barak said on Monday.

 

There were also growing fears that a ground offensive was being planned after Israel declared a "closed military zone" around the Gaza Strip.

 

Civilians, including journalists, could be banned from an area between 2km and 4km deep under the policy. On previous occasions, such a move has sometimes been followed by military operations.

 

Trapped Palestinians

 

Tanks and troops have been massed in the area since the attacks, referred to by the Israeli military as Operation Cast Lead, was launched on Saturday.

 

Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Gaza City, said that there was little the residents of Gaza could do to prepare for any possible ground assault.

 

"In a city that is so densely-populated, a ground offensive would mean urban warfare, street-to-street fighting ...leaving many Palestinians in the crossfire," he said.

 

"Unlike other conflict zones where there is the possibility to flee the war zone, Gaza itself has become the war zone. There is nowhere for the population to go, they are in the middle of all these attacks."

 

PHOTO CAPTION

 

A relative carries the body of 4-year-old girl Dena Balosha during her funeral in Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip December 29, 2008.

 

Al-Jazeera