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Israeli Forces Bisect Gaza

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By ETHAN BRONNER

The New York Times

Published: January 5, 2009

ON THE ISRAELI-GAZA BORDER - Israeli troops and tanks, protected by heavy air, sea and artillery fire, sliced through the center of Gaza on Sunday, taking control of rocket-launching areas and surrounding the main city, as their government rebuffed diplomatic efforts to end the nine-day assault.

In the face of mounting international calls for a cease-fire, including harsh criticism from the head of the United Nations, Israeli leaders pledged to continue their campaign to end the threat of rocket launches by Gazan militants.

"This operation was unavoidable," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday.

A delegation led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to arrive in New York today to pressure the U.N. Security Council to demand a cease-fire.

In Gaza, residents faced severe power shortages and other deprivations as the reported death toll passed 500, of whom 100 were said to be civilians.

Information from the Los Angeles Times was used in this report.

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