Smoke and fire is seen rising from fuel tanks following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Jan. 12, 2009. Israeli warplanes pounded the homes of Hamas leaders and ground troops edged closer to the Gaza Strip's densely-populated urban center Monday, as Israel stepped up the pressure ahead of deciding whether to escalate its devastating two-week offensive. (AP Photo/Eyad Baba)Palestinian Death Toll Tops 900: Gaza Medical Official -- Yahoo News/Reuters
GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli troops fought fierce gun battles with Hamas fighters on Monday, keeping military pressure on the Islamist group while avoiding all-out urban warfare that would complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war.
Medical officials said the Palestinian death toll in the offensive Israel began 17 days ago had risen past 900 and included at least 380 civilians. Israel says 13 Israelis -- three civilians hit by rockets and 10 soldiers -- have died.
An Israeli military spokesman said army reservists had been thrown into the campaign that Israel launched with the declared aim of ending cross-border rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled territory to its south.
But Israeli forces were still holding back from a threatened third stage of their deadliest assault on Palestinian militants in decades -- a push into the city of Gaza and other urban areas to add more punch to an air campaign and ground offensive.
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More News On The Israel Hamas War
Israel battles Hamas as toll passes 900 -- Yahoo News/AFP
Israel pounds new Hamas targets, enlists reserves -- Yahoo News/AP
Israel Reinforces Army Before ‘Third Phase’ of War in Gaza -- The Times
Israeli Offensive Presses into Gaza City -- Los Angeles Times
As Troops Enter Gaza City, Israel Sees an Opening -- New York Times
Israelis Push to Edge of Gaza City -- Washington Post
Israel 'Close to Destroying Military Wing of Hamas' -- Daily Telegraph
With goals unmet in Gaza, Israel military wants more time -- McClatchy Newspapers
Battered by Israel, Hamas Faces Tough Choice -- Los Angeles Times
Israel and Hamas Vow to Press on With Fighting in Gaza -- Voice of America
Hamas Split on Cease-fire -- Washington Times
At Least 860 Palestinians Killed, Israel Says Bombings Will Continue -- VOA
Israeli Reserve Troops Sent to Gaza -- BBC News
Israel Sends in Reservists, Says End May be Near -- Agence France-Presse
Israel Accused of Using Illegal White Phosphorus Shells in Gaza -- Daily Telegraph
Israel Denies Banned Weapons Use -- BBC News
War Intensifies in Gaza after Diplomacy Falls on Deaf Ears -- The Times
Olmert Says Too Early for Cease-Fire in Gaza -- Voice of America
Bush Overrules Rice on Gaza -- Washington Times
Crisis in Gaza Imperils 2-State Plan -- New York Times
Thousands Rail Against Israel over Gaza -- Associated Press
Few in US See Jazeera’s Coverage of Gaza War -- New York Times
Lebanese, Palestinian students protest Gaza attack -- International Herald Tribune
Fierce focus on tunnels, a lifeline for Gazans -- International Herald Tribune
'Hamas salaries paid at Shifa Hospital' -- Jerusalem Post
TIMELINE-Israeli-Hamas violence since ceasefire ended -- Reuters
Analysis
What's the Endgame for Israel and Hamas in Gaza? -- Christian Science Monitor
Analysis: Abbas weakened by Israel's Gaza war -- AP
ANALYSIS-Victory elusive for both Israel and Hamas -- Reuters
Analysis: Fatah, Hamas face internal divisions -- San Francisco Chronicle
Analysis: The Egyptian tightrope act between Israel and Hamas -- Jerusalem Post
Opinions. Editorials, And Commentary
Silence the Guns in Gaza -- Los Angeles Times editorial
Gaza Must Make Ahmadinejad Smile -- Fareed Zakaria, Newsweek
Casualties of War: Palestinian Moderates -- Andrew Lee Butters, Time
No, We Are Not All Hamas Now -- Dominic Lawson, Times of London
Israel's Just Goal: Reasonable Cease-Fire -- Chicago Sun-Times editorial
The New Israeli Fatalism -- Washington Post opinion
Bridges to Peace in Gaza -- Los Angeles Times opinion
Ending the West's Proxy War Against Israel -- Gunnar Heinsohn, WSJ
Time for the Diplomats in Gaza -- Richard Haass, Newsweek
No, We are Not all Hamas Now -- The Times opinion
Negotiating the Mideast -- Los Angeles Times opinion
How the US Magnified Palestinian Suffering -- Christian Science Monitor opinion
How the US Increased Gaza Suffering -- Norman & Matthew Olsen, CSM
Livni Squanders the IDF's Achievement -- Jeff Barak, Jerusalem Post
Only Hamas Is to Blame for the War -- New York Post opinion