After an aggressive air strike campaign, you knew this was coming. The Israelis have announced that they launched a ground force incursion into Gaza Saturday evening. From the Washington Post:
Israeli tanks and infantry entered Gaza after nightfall Saturday, launching a ground offensive that the military said would be a "lengthy operation" in a widening war on Gaza's Hamas rulers.Due to Hamas hiding amongst civilians, the "collateral damage" of Gaza civilians was incredibly disturbing, as this graphic LiveLeak video will show. Kids with their legs blown off, people screaming in pain as their intestines fall out of their body, and the other pleasant aspects of conflict. Ground occupation would allow better intelligence and thereby less civilians casualties (as was seen when the Iraqi Army went into Sadr City in May), but it could also anger Palestinians and the surrounding region into sparking a prolonged period of mass violence resulting in more death and despair. I fear the latter.
Heavy gun battles were reported as Israeli tanks and infantry soldiers entered Gaza after dark. The forces stayed close to the border area, witnesses said. Heavy artillery fire hit east of Gaza City in areas where Hamas fighters were deployed.
"We have many, many targets," Israeli military spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovich told CNN, adding that Hamas has been digging smuggling tunnels and other facilities. "To my estimation, it will be a lengthy operation," she said.
She said the goal of the operation was to take over the areas used by militants to launch rockets against Israel.
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