Israeli offensive continues for 16th day, 38 killed on Sunday

Witnesses said that several Israeli army tanks and armored vehicles rolled about three kilometers into the two neighborhood, adding that the area witnesses a fierce and violent confrontations between Israeli soldiers and Gaza militants.

Smoke rises during Israel's offensive in the northern Gaza Strip in the late afternoon January 11, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Hassanein said that at least 12 Palestinians were killed during the few-hour ground operation into the two areas of Gaza City. Witnesses said that 12 militants and two civilians were killed, and dozens were injured.

The witnesses said that one of the two civilians were killed in Tal el-Hawa neighborhood was a two-year old child and the other was 21 years old.

The PFLP Radio station reported that as the Israeli ground forces were attacking southwestern Gaza City, Israeli warplanes and tanks intensified strikes and shelling allover the entire Gaza Strip.

From overnight till Sunday morning, at least 12 were killed in separate airstrikes and tank shellings in northern Gaza Strip, eastern Gaza City and the east Khan Younis in the southern Strip, said local witnesses.

Israeli aircraft bombed over 60 Hamas targets throughout Gaza Strip overnight, including the house of Ahmed Ja'abri, the top commander of the Hamas armed wing. Ja'abri has been evacuated earlier and is believed to be hiding together with other Hamas leader.

Meanwhile, several Israeli tanks rode into densely-populated area of southern Gaza City on the beach of the Strip. Heavy clashes took place between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants. Witnesses said after the confrontation, the Israeli tanks retreated back.

Hassanein gave an updated figure of the casualties of the Palestinians since the beginning of the Israeli operation called "Cast Lead" that started in Dec. 27, saying that 901 people were killed, and 3,695 wounded.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei