GAZA CITY (AFP) — Israeli tanks rolled into Gaza late Saturday and troops clashed with Hamas fighters in a step-up to an eight-day offensive that has killed hundreds of Palestinians and caused widespread destruction.
A burning fuel depot lit up the night sky soon after tanks and troops crossed the border and the air force carried out more raids in the biggest Israeli military operation since its 2006 war in Lebanon.
Dozens of Hamas fighters were killed in the initial battles, an Israeli military spokesman said. The Islamist group said on its television station that Israeli soldiers had also been killed and vowed to turned Gaza in a "cemetery" for the invading force.
The claims could not be immediately confirmed.
The Israeli government called up thousands of reservists to join the ground offensive aimed at ending rocket and mortar attacks by Hamas and its militant allies from the enclave sandwiched between Israel and Egypt.
Israeli tanks were reported to be in battles around Gaza City, and the northern towns of Beit Lahiya and Jabaliya. Hamas forces fired back with mortars and rockets, witnesses said.
Gaza emergency services said one child was killed and 11 other children were wounded in one tank attack.
"Large numbers of forces are taking part in this stage of the operation including infantry, tanks, engineering forces, artillery and intelligence," a military spokesman said.
The military said a 20-nautical-mile naval blockade would be enforced along the coast.
In a statement, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office said the army would take over sites in Gaza used to fired rockets at Israel and vowed to deal a "hard blow" at the Islamists.
"It will not be easy or short but we are determined," Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said.