Israel pounds new Hamas targets, enlists reserves to support offensive

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 weighed a decision to escalate its devastating offensive.

Despite the tightening Israeli cordon, militants managed to fire off at least 15 rockets Monday. There were no reports of injuries, though one rocket hit a house in the southern city of Ashkelon.

A few hours after that strike, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited Ashkelon and said Israel would end the conflict if rocket fire on Israel stops and Hamas is unable to rearm.

“Anything else will be met with the Israeli people’s iron fist,” Olmert said. “We will continue as long as necessary to remove this threat from our heads.”

Black smoke rose over Gaza City’s suburbs, where the two sides skirmished throughout the night. At least 16 Palestinians were killed on Monday, Gaza health officials said. Among the dead was a militant killed in a northern Gaza battle.

The army announced Sunday that it was sending reserve units into Gaza to assist thousands of ground forces already in the territory. The use of reserves is a strong signal that Israel is planning to move the offensive, which Gaza officials say has killed some 910 Palestinians, into a new, more punishing phase.

Israel launched the offensive on Dec. 27, bombarding Gaza with dozens of airstrikes before sending in ground forces a week later. The operation is meant to halt years of Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel. Fighting has persisted despite international calls for a cease-fire. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers, have died.