Gaza ground offensive

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the operation was launched late Thursday to strike "terror tunnels" from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

"A large IDF force has just launched a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. A new phase of Operation Protective Edge has begun," the Israeli military announced late on Thursday.

Heavy bombardment targeted northern Gaza and Palestinians reported several deaths and dozens of injuries.

Armoured vehicles, artillery and intelligence units as well as infantry soldiers have moved into Gaza and are conducting operations along with the air force and navy, the Israeli military said.

The military said the incursion was open-ended and would be carried out on several fronts in the coastal strip.

Chief military spokesman Motti Almoz called on Gaza residents to evacuate targeted areas, warning the "military is operating there with very great force."

An official in the Gaza security operations room said all of Gaza's border areas were being shelled, and that Hamas fighters were exchanging fire with Israeli troops near the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun.

Gaza health officials said seven Palestinians were killed in the early stage of the ground operation, including a 3-month-old boy who died after a shell hit his family's Bedouin tent in southern Gaza.

The ground operation followed a five-hour-long truce on Thursday during which Israel held fire to allow the 1.7 million Gaza residents to leave their homes to buy food, water and, which had become increasingly difficult since the conflict began last month.

The Israeli attacks have damaged water and electricity supplies in Gaza.

Since July 8, Israeli strikes have hit more than 2,000 targets in Gaza and Hamas launched nearly 1,500 rockets at Israel, the Israeli military has said.

Medics in Gaza said at least 246 Palestinians have died in the offensive so far, which Israel launched last week saying, it intended to stop rocket fire by Palestinian militants.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Israel to "do far more" to stop civilian casualties.

"There can be no military solution to this conflict," Ban said.

Israel last carried out a major ground offensive in Gaza in January 2009.

rg/av (AP, dpa)