Israeli ground troops 'move into Gaza'

Gaza Strip bombarded with Israeli artillery on Saturday

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Saturday, 03, Jan 2009 06:29

The Israeli military offensive on Hamas has continued to escalate, with ground troops entering the Gaza Strip.

A spokeswoman said the offensive was intended to seize control of areas from which Palestinian rockets have been fired into Israel.

And it was claimed later that the operation will last "many days".

The move towards a ground offensive followed increased air strikes from Israeli forces.

At least 16 Palestinians are reported to have been killed when the Ibrahim al-Maqadna mosque was struck by a missile, according to the AFP news agency.

Eyewitnesses are quoted as saying more than 200 people were inside the mosque at the time of the blast.

Khaled Meshaal, the exiled Hamas leader, had earlier warned Israel that a "black destiny" awaited them if a ground offensive was launched.

The artillery raids came as thousands of people across the UK took part in demonstrations against the violence, calling for a ceasefire.

Protestors hurled shoes at the gates of Downing Street in anger at the Israeli response to rocket attacks from Hamas while thousands more took to the streets in Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

A Number 10 spokesman said the prime minister Gordon Brown had spoken to his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Olmert, to push for an end to the conflict.

"Rocket attacks from Hamas must stop, and we have called for a halt to Israeli military action in Gaza," the spokesman said.

"Too many have died and we need space to get humanitarian supplies to those who need them.

"As the prime minister has made clear, moderation must prevail."

In his weekly radio address, outgoing US president George Bush laid the blame for the violence between Hamas and Israel in Gaza on the militant organisation, and said the group must be monitored to prevent them building up arms.