By Prensa Latina,
Gaza : Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants are fiercely fighting in the outskirts of Gaza after Israel launched a ground offensive into the Palestinian territory last night.
At least 30 Israeli soldiers have been wounded so far, according to the invading forces.
Israeli troops entered the strip through the Beit Hanoun crossing, and then crossed the border near Al-Qubbah heading to the surroundings of the Al-Jabaliya refugee camp (north), where heavy fighting has been reported.
Thousands of Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip overnight with tanks and helicopters, accompanied by naval support and air strikes against northwest Gaza, allowing them take the localities of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) reported members of its Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, along with other forces claimed to have caused several casualties to the invading troops, but Tel Aviv only confirmed 30 injured soldiers.
Witnesses said Hamas has captured two Israeli soldiers. Israeli sources claimed at least 40 Palestinians were killed in the first clashes.
Palestinian medical sources say at least 477 Palestinians have died and more than 2,300 had been injured since Israel began aerial bom