SOME OF the fiercest clashes of Israel's 16-day military campaign in Gaza occurred yesterday on the edge of Gaza city, as Israel confirmed, for the first time, that some of the thousands of reservists drafted for the operation are participating in the fighting.
At the southern end of the strip, along the border with Egypt, some 20 tunnels used for smuggling were bombed. Israeli military officials confirmed that Palestinians fired an anti-aircraft missile at an Israeli aircraft over the weekend. A number of shoulder-held anti-aircraft missiles have been smuggled into Gaza, according to Israeli intelligence, and a mosque was targeted where Israel believed the missiles were stored.
With Israel banning journalists from entering the war zone, a clear picture is difficult to obtain.
Israeli military spokesmen reported that the advancing forces discovered hundreds of booby-trapped tunnels, homes and other buildings, including a school and a zoo.
Palestinian medical sources put the death toll last night at 890, with 3,500 wounded, since the war began. Thirteen Israelis have also been killed: 10 soldiers and three civilians.
The UN Relief and Works Agency reported that some 25,000 residents whose homes have been destroyed have sought shelter in UN-run schools across the strip.
In Cairo contacts continued between Egyptian officials and Hamas representatives on the Egyptian-French truce plan, following the rejection on Friday by both Israel and Hamas of UN Security Council resolution 1860, which called for an immediate ceasefire.
Israeli officials have indicated that the military operation may be wound down if the Egyptian initiative includes an effective mechanism to stop arms smuggling into Gaza.
Failing this, the Israeli government is likely to give the green light to phase three of the war, which will entail using additional reservists to flush out militants hiding in urban centres and refugee camps.
Diplomatic sources in Jerusalem were quoted as saying there is a two- to three-day window open before Israel steps up the military assault. Leaflets were dropped over Gaza on Saturday warning residents that an escalation was about to begin.
Prime minister Ehud Olmert told the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem yesterday that Israel was near to achieving its military goals but the army would press on with the offensive. Ministers were briefed by military intelligence that even though Hamas has been hit hard, the organisation would not surrender. However army generals said the rocket attacks on southern Israel continued.
In Ireland, several demonstrations against the continuing violence in Gaza took place over the weekend. On Saturday more than 1,000 people took to the streets of Dublin to protest against Israel's military assault.
Scuffles broke out in front of the Israeli embassy yesterday as proPalestinian groups organised a counter-demonstration against a prayer rally, which began outside the Dáil, held in support of Israel.
Israeli ambassador Zion Evrony will address two Oireachtas committee meetings this week. Several Irish politicians made calls over the weekend for him to be expelled.