Israeli Troops Push Deep Into Gaza

Israeli tanks and thousands of troops pushed deep into the Gaza strip today in a dramatic escalation of the conflict, reaching as far as the Mediterranean coast, cutting Gaza in half and seizing control of large areas of the overcrowded territory.

Israel's much-anticipated ground operation began on Saturday night, the eighth day of the war, and is the biggest Israeli assault on Gaza since 2005, when it withdrew its Jewish settlers. Television footage showed troops wearing night-vision goggles and their faces painted with camouflage marching in single file across the border.

Thick clouds of black and white smoke lay over Gaza this morning as the Israeli attack targeted the towns of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya and Jabaliya in the north, all of which have been frequent scenes of Israeli incursions in recent years. Israeli troops were also seen in the southern Gaza strip, near the town of Rafah, along the Egyptian border.

The streets of Gaza City were deserted and the city was surrounded by Israeli forces to the north, east and south. Naval ships in the Mediterranean continued to fire shells into Gaza, along with artillery rounds from the east and repeated air strikes across the length of Gaza. Tens of thousands of Israeli reservists were called up, a sign that the operation might yet deepen.

At least 30 Israeli troops were injured after the invasion began late on Saturday night - two, a soldier and an officer, were seriously hurt. Hamas' al-Aqsa television reported in Gaza today that Hamas fighters had captured two Israeli soldiers, but the Israeli army said it had no knowledge of any such incident and previous Hamas reports of Israeli casualties had proved inaccurate. At least 12 Palestinians, most civilians, were reported killed by tank shells in northern Gaza.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the Israelis were "peace seekers." "We are not war hungry but we shall not, I repeat - we shall not allow a situation where our towns, villages and civilians are constantly targeted by Hamas. It will not be easy or short but we are determined," he said.

Brigadier-General Avi Benayahu, an Israeli military spokesman, said the military's goals in launching what it called "phase two" of its campaign in Gaza were: "to deal a heavy blow to the Hamas terror organisation, to strengthen Israel's deterrence and to create a better security situation for those living around the Gaza Strip that will be maintained for the long term."

The decision to launch a ground offensive came after a late-night meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, which ran until 4am on Saturday. A security cabinet meeting then approved the operation - although two Israeli ministers reportedly abstained.

It followed another day of intense Israeli bombing in Gaza on Saturday. Among the targets destroyed was the American International School in northern Gaza, probably the best private school in the strip and one that has been attacked by Palestinian militants in the past. Another air strike destroyed a mosque in Beit Lahiya, killing around a dozen Palestinians.

The death toll in Gaza climbed to at least 480, with more than 2,300 wounded, according to Palestinian medical officials. On the Israeli side four people have died since Saturday in rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza, with around 60 wounded.

Hamas leaders warned of heavy fighting to come. "You entered like rats. Your entry to Gaza won't be easy. Gaza will be a graveyard for you, God willing," Ismail Radwan, a Hamas spokesman said in a statement broadcast on Hamas television. In Damascus, the Hamas leader in exile, Khaled Meshal, said on Friday that Israeli soldiers faced a "black fate" in Gaza. He has said Hamas' conditions for a ceasefire were that Israeli attacks stopped, that Israel lift its long economic blockade of Gaza and that the Rafah border crossing into Egypt be opened for people and goods. Israel is thought to want tougher conditions, including a halt to Palestinian rocket fire, an end to smuggling, continued control of the crossings into Gaza and it is thought likely to push for international monitoring of any ceasefire deal.

Diplomacy to end the conflict appeared to falter. Late on Saturday night, the US blocked the approval of a UN Security Council statement calling for an immediate ceasefire. Alejandro Wolff, the US deputy ambassador, said Hamas would not agree to halt the violence and that a new statement "would not be adhered to and would have no underpinning for success, would not do credit to the council."

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon spoke of his "extreme concerns and disappointment" about the invasion, and France too condemned Israel's ground attack. But Jiri Potuznik, a spokesman for the EU presidency currently held by the Czech Republic, issued a statement that was strikingly supportive of Israel, saying: "At the moment, from the perspective of the last days, we understand this step as a defensive, not offensive, action."