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Reservists go into Gaza as hopes rise of end to conflict
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor12 Jan 2009
THOUSANDS of Israeli reservists were sent into Gaza today despite signs of a slight decline in the intensity of the fighting and renewed hopes the conflict could be entering its final stages.
Senior officials said the move was intended to "keep up the military pressure" on Hamas, but military chiefs insisted the deployment, designed to allow Israel to tighten its grip on key strategic sites, did not mean a major escalation of the offensive.
There were signs the violence could instead be diminishing, including a drop in the number of Israeli strikes overnight with only 12 missions launched, compared with up to 60 on previous nights of the 17-day conflict. There were also no reports of rockets being fired into Israel by Palestinian militants.
The more positive indications follow a declaration by Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert that his country was close to achieving its military objectives and had made "impressive gains".
He added: "Israel is nearing the objectives it set itself, but more patience, determination and effort is still demanded to achieve those goals in a way that will change the security reality in the south."
However, there were further military exchanges in Gaza as Israeli ground forces sought to consolidate their grip on the territory. At least one Palestinian was reported to have been killed after Israeli forces attacked Hamas installations. Israeli navy gunboats also fired more than 25 shells at Gaza City.
Israeli ground forces made their deepest forays yet into the most populated areas over the weekend, with infantry fighting in streets and buildings with Hamas militants. Army spokeswoman Major Avital Leibovich said residential neighborhoods were being filled with homemade bombs and booby traps "since the majority of the Hamas militants are pretty much in hiding in those places".
Medical officials say at least 870 Palestinians, about half of them civilians, have been killed in the conflict, while Israel has had 13 fatalities, including 10 soldiers.
Efforts towards a ceasefire were continuing today with former prime minister Tony Blair - who represents the "Quartet", the US, the EU, UN and Russia - meeting Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak in Cairo to discuss a Franco-Egyptian peace plan.
