Israeli Troops Push Into Gaza City in Day of Fierce Fighting ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Ethan Bronner, Steven Erlanger - January 11, 2009 - 1:00am Israeli troops pushed into a heavily populated area of Gaza City from the south early on Sunday in what the army and locals described as fierce fighting. In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the nation that Israel is “getting close to achieving the goals it set for itself,” but that “more patience, determination and effort is still demanded.” Speaking during the regular Sunday cabinet meeting, Mr. Olmert gave no time frame for the conflict but said that Israel “must not miss out, at the last moment, on what has been achieved through an unprecedented national effort.” » Read more

Israeli troops, militants battle in Gaza suburb ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press by Ibrahim Barzak, Matti Friedman - January 11, 2009 - 1:00am Israeli troops battled Palestinian gunmen in a suburb of Gaza City Sunday in one of the fiercest ground battles so far as Israel's military inched toward Gaza's population centers. A top Israeli defense official said Hamas has been badly hurt by the offensive in Gaza - especialy by the deaths of senior militants and shortages of ammunition - but predicted that the group would fight on. The group "is not expected to raise a white flag," military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin told the Israeli Cabinet Sunday. » Read more

Israel says Gaza war nearing end as fighting rages ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) January 11, 2009 - 1:00am Israel indicated for the first time on Sunday that an end was in sight to its war on Hamas, amid some of the heaviest clashes of an offensive that has killed nearly 900 people in the Gaza Strip. Israeli troops pushed deeper into Gaza's main city, sparking some of the fiercest battles yet of the 16-day-old war that Israel launched in response to rocket fire, but that has failed to completely stop the rockets. » Read more