Resistance is strong in Gaza City

Israeli troops backed by tanks and helicopter gunships have attacked eastern Gaza, facing a strong resistance from Palestinian fighters. Hamas which has described the Israeli offensive as a failure says Palestinian fighters are strongly resisting the invaders.

Over 80 Israeli soldiers have been wounded since the start of Gaza incursion.

Israeli troops backed by tanks and helicopter gunships have attacked eastern Gaza, facing a strong resistance from Palestinian fighters.

Hamas which has described the Israeli offensive as a failure says Palestinian fighters are strongly resisting the invaders.

As Gaza fighters were exchanging fire with Israeli troops in eastern parts of the city and in the Shejaiya district Gaza has been under heavy bombardment by Israeli gunboats from the west.

The Israeli media quoted witnesses as saying that Hamas fighters kept firing anti-tank missiles and mortar bombs at invading Israeli forces.

The development on Sunday comes as the Israeli radio announced yesterday that thousands of Israeli reserve soldiers have been waiting to receive a green light from Israeli security cabinet to invade the Gaza City.

Washington-backed Israeli massive bombing campaign of the besieged Gaza Strip which started on December 27, and its later ground offensive has so far killed at least 857 Palestinians and wounded 3,500 others, most of them women and children. Many other people are believed to be under rubble.

According to the UN figures, at least one thirds of those killed are children.

The Israeli security cabinet will meet on Sunday to discuss expanding of operations in the Gaza Strip as Operation Cast Lead entered its third week, it said.
The report added that Barak would decide on a defining stage on the Sunday meeting.

Israeli security cabinet meeting about the expansion of the conflict comes as the UN Security Council almost unanimously approved on Thursday a resolution for an "immediate" and "durable" ceasefire followed by the "full withdrawal" of Israeli forces from the sliver of Palestinian land.

The resolution also demands "the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including of food, fuel and medical treatment".

Fourteen out of the council's 15 members voted for the resolution, but Israel's main ally, the United States, abstained from voting.

Israel has rejected UN Resolution 1860 and has escalated its air and ground strikes against the besieged territory. All the Gaza crossings are still closed.

The Palestinian coastal silver has been under a tight blockade a short time after the Hamas movement -- which does not recognize Israel as a legitimate state-- won an overwhelming victory in 2006 parliamentary elections.

Israel launched the military campaign against the impoverished coastal strip after a recent Israeli National Security Council assessment urged Tel Aviv to hinder "elections in the Palestinian Authority” because the upcoming elections in the Palestinian Authority might lead to Hamas victory.