Israeli Tanks Roll Into Southern Gaza

Israeli soldiers look at maps as they prepare at a gathering point near Kibbutz Kissufim on the border with the Gaza Strip, Tuesday, July 11, 2006. Israeli leaders approved new incursions into the Gaza Strip, security officials said Tuesday, after the Hamas leader said he would not free an Israeli soldier whose capture by Palestinian militants led to a bloody 13-day confrontation. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

July 11, 2006

By IBRAHIM BARZAK

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Israeli tanks and troops moved into southern Gaza early Wednesday in a new phase of a two-week offensive aimed at confronting militants holding a captured soldier and firing rockets, Palestinians and the military said.

The Israeli military confirmed that forces are operating in southern Gaza, but gave no details.

Israel launched its offensive on June 28, three days after Palestinian militants linked to the Hamas-led government captured an Israeli soldier in a cross-border raid. The operation was expanded last week to halt Palestinian militants from firing homemade rockets into Israel.