JERUSALEM, GAZA CITY
Israeli authorities have confirmed that 20 people, including 18 soldiers, had been killed since the start of its military onslaught against the Gaza Strip earlier this month.
On Sunday, the Israeli army said that 13 troops were killed in clashes with Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Five other troops had been killed earlier.
Two civilians were also killed – one by a mortar shell near Erez crossing with Gaza and another in a rocket attack near the southern Dimona city.
15 Israeli soldiers injured in Gaza
At least 15 Israeli soldiers have been injured in clashes with Palestinian gunmen in the Gaza Strip, Israeli army said Monday.
In a statement, the army said that two of the injured soldiers were in serious condition.
The statement went on to say that the army was launching a major operation against tunnels in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz earlier reported that six wounded soldiers arrived at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer in central Israel,
Five wounded soldiers were also evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba overnight.
Since July 7, Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip with air and naval bombardments with the stated aim of halting rocket attacks from it.
On Thursday night, Israel stepped up its offensive to include ground operations, sending thousands of troops into the embattled Palestinian territory.
The operation has left 469 Gazans killed - including 98 on Sunday alone - and 3100 others injured so far.
Israel's military operation, dubbed operation "Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against Gaza in the last six years.
By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout
www.aa.com.tr/en
