14/07/18 05:10:39.47 0
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Israel starts ground offensive in Gaza
The Israeli military has begun a ground offensive against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were extending their 10-day-old Operation Protective Edge.
They said it was in response to continued militant rocket fire and to strike a "significant blow to Hamas", which controls Gaza.
There was a five-hour humanitarian truce on Thursday but exchanges of fire resumed when it ended.
Some 230 Palestinians and one Israeli have died during the Operation Protective Edge period.
In a statement, the IDF said: "Following 10 days of Hamas attacks by land, air and sea, and after repeated rejections of offers
to de-escalate the situation, the IDF has initiated a ground operation within the Gaza Strip."