CINA

Rami Avraham, who lives nearby (in Ashkelon), told: "I was sitting in my house's balcony and waiting to see if the army was firing at the (Gaza) Strip. Suddenly I heard a loud whistle and saw the rocket flying with fire and a lot of smoke, and then I heard a very loud explosion."

Wednesday in the late evening the military wing of Hamas was launching again two Qassam rockets, hitting the second time in two days the south Israeli coastal town Ashkelon. In the night before IAF was attacking again Palestinian govt buildings in Gaza.

After the latest rocket attack against Ashkelon the situation on the battle field, especially in the northern part of Gaza was/is intensifying hour by hour. During fierce fights between IDF and resistance fighters only in the last hours about 16 Palestinians were killed.

Here the latest news:

10 dead after fighting in Gaza (Guardian)



Palestinians run for cover during armed clashes between Palestinian militants

and Israeli soldiers in Beit Lahiya. Photograph: Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty
 

In the early hours of this morning Israeli forces took over settlements they evacuated 10 months ago in northern Gaza and pushed to the outskirts of Beit Lahiya. There has been little progress in international negotiations on the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit, 19, but Israel increased its offensive against Gazan militants after three Qassams rockets hit central Ashkelon, an area that was previously out of range...

Read the full article here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1814291,00.html

Israelis Push Farther Into Gaza Strip (Washington Post)

IDF takes swath of northern Gaza to end rocket fire (Haaretz)

Eleven Palestinians, including one civilian, were killed by the Israel Defense Forces in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahia on Thursday afternoon, bringing the death toll to 17 since the start of an incursion in northern Gaza aimed at ending Qassam fire. Palestinian officials said eight people were killed and 20 more wounded when an Israel Air Force aircraft fired a missile and two shells at a group of armed militants in Beit Lahia. Three others were killed and another 35 wounded in further clashes... http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/735455.html     16 Palestinians killed in Gaza battles (Ynet/Yedioth Ahronoth)   Heavy fire exchanges ensue in northern Gaza Thursday afternoon; sources in the Strip report of at least eight killed by direct hit of IDF artillery shell, another two shot dead by soldiers in Beit Lahiya. Palestinian death toll stands at 16 since operation has been launched Wednesday night. IDF claims attacks were aimed solely at terrorists. Meanwhile, Qassam fire on Israel continues... http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3272040,00.html     Meanwhile.. ..UN calls on Israel to halt Gaza operation http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3272141,00.html