Israeli troops cut Gaza in two

Israeli ground forces and tanks cut a swathe through the Gaza Strip early on Sunday, cutting the coastal territory into two and surrounding its biggest city as the new phase of a  devastating offensive against Hamas militants gained momentum.

More than 30 Palestinians, most of them civilians, were killed as Israeli shells slammed into houses and Gaza’s main shopping district. Thirty Israeli soldiers were wounded, Israel said.

The Saturday night invasion of Hamas-ruled Gaza followed a week of Israeli bombardment from land, sea, and air, which failed to halt militant Hamas rocket attacks on southern Israel. The offensive’s stated aim is to destroy the militants’ rocket-launching infrastructure.

More than 500 Palestinians have been killed in the nine days of ‘Operation Cast Lead’ and Israeli officials said the offensive could last many days.

The plight of Palestinian civilians was growing more desperate. People have taken shelter in their homes for days and humanitarian agencies warned that water, food, and medical supplies were running short.