Israeli forces encircle Gaza City

[bridgit]

'GAZA: Backed by fire from air, sea and land, Israeli troops and tanks pushed deeper into Gaza on Monday after rebuffing diplomatic efforts to end the 10-day assault.

Even as President Nicolas Sarkozy of France readied a new quest for a ceasefire, Israeli forces took control of rocket-launching areas and surrounded Gaza City after slicing through the center of the beleaguered territory on Sunday.

Despite the onslaught, Hamas militants continued to lob rockets into southern Israel, witnesses said, as Gaza residents, fearful of growing casualties, faced severe power shortages and other deprivations. The reported death toll of Palestinians passed 500 since the assault began, including 100 said to be civilians.

Tzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister, insisted on Monday that Israel was "not only defending its right to defend itself" but was also waging a regional campaign "against extremism and against terror."'

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Israeli_forces_encircle_Gaza_City/articleshow/3939675.cms