Times of Oman
 
Gaza City, Jan 6: Israeli troops and Hamas fighters battled at dawn in Gaza on Monday amid tank, artillery and air strikes, as the death toll from the offensive to end rocket attacks passed 510.

Israeli forces moved into the fringes of Gaza City as families fled or remained hidden after a second night of combat. Just before dawn two loud explosions were heard in Gaza City and shelling from naval boats off the coast could also be heard.

There were also reports of artillery from Israel and navy gunboats shelling the two main north-south roads at points in central and southern Gaza.

The Israeli air force attacked 130 targets in Gaza overnight, a spokesman said.

At least 70 Palestinians have been killed since Israel sent ground troops into Gaza on Saturday night, Gaza medics said. Israel said one soldier was killed by a mortar shell on Sunday and another 19 were wounded, bringing the total to 49 since the beginning of the incursion.

Witnesses said tanks had cut off Gaza City and the far north from the rest of the strip, which would prevent the entry of arms, supplies and fighters from the south.

An AFP photographer said warplanes were also bombing targets in the southern border town of Rafah, where hundreds of tunnels are used to smuggle in supplies from Egypt.

The army declined to confirm or deny the reports.

Fierce clashes were also reported around the northern towns of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanun and Jabaliya.

Moawiya Hassanein, head of Gaza medical emergency services, told AFP the number of Palestinians killed since the Israeli operation was launched on December 27 was now 512, including 87 children, with more tan 2,500 wounded.

Five members of the same family died when a tank shell hit their car near Gaza City, emergency services said. Three ambulance workers were killed when they were hit by a missile as they helped wounded victims, medics said.