 | | The New York Times |
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Israeli forces move toward Gaza City |
The Israeli military advanced deeper into the Gaza Strip today, approaching Gaza City, the enclave's largest city, from at least three sides. |
South of Gaza City, Israeli forces reached Salah al-Din Road, one of the main north-south arteries used by people trying to heed the Israeli call to evacuate northern Gaza. |
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief Israeli military spokesman, said a combined force of infantry, tanks and armored units was attempting to move toward groups of armed Palestinian operatives inside Gaza. |
Hagari declined to specify how many Israeli troops were inside Gaza, or where, saying only that the military was engaged in "expanded ground operations" that are "progressing gradually." It was not possible to verify Israel's account of the fighting. |
At a news conference, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would push on despite calls for a cease-fire, which he described as "calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism." |
Asked about the civilian death toll in Gaza from Israeli airstrikes, Netanyahu said that "not a single civilian has to die." He accused Hamas of preventing civilians from leaving the conflict areas. Israel's airstrikes and ground offensive have killed more than 8,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry. |
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