Israel Kills Dozens of Hamas Fighters; UN Will Meet

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 3, 2009 4:45 PM CST
Israel Kills Dozens of Hamas Fighters; UN Will Meet
Israel infantry soldiers gather on the border just before leaving Israel for the northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

Casualties are mounting in the early hours of Israel's ground invasion of Gaza. Israeli infantrymen killed dozens of Hamas fighters after crossing the border at nightfall, the Jerusalem Post reports. At least 30 Israeli soldiers were injured, some seriously. "The campaign won't be easy and it won't be short," said Israeli defense chief Ehud Barak.

The UN Security Council has called an emergency session for this evening to discuss the ground invasion, which followed a week of airstrikes, the New York Times notes. Israel's navy has imposed a blockade of the water near Gaza to prevent Hamas from getting supplies, and defense officials have authorized the call-up of thousands of reservists.
(More Israel stories.)

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