ISRAEL WIDENED ITS OFFENSIVE IN THE GAZA STRIP ON SUNDAY, KILLING A PALESTINIAN CIVILIAN IN SOUTHERN GAZA AND THREE IN THE NORTH, WHILE ALSO PURSUING A SECOND FRONT AGAINST LEBANESE HIZBOLLAH FIGHTERS. THE GAZA OPERATION, AIMED AT RECOVERING A CAPTURED SOLDIER AND STOPPING ARMED GROUPS FROM FIRING MAKESHIFT ROCKETS, HAS PILED PRESSURE ON THE PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT LED BY HAMAS, WHICH DEMANDS A PRISONER SWAP FOR THE SEIZED ISRAELI CORPORAL, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF REUTERS. ISRAELI TROOPS HAD PULLED OUT OF THE NORTHERN GAZA STRIP A WEEK EARLIER AFTER A MAJOR RAID INTO THE TERRITORY, WHICH ISRAEL ABANDONED IN 2005 AFTER A 38-YEAR OCCUPATION. BUT ON SUNDAY ISRAELI TANKS AND ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS, BACKED BY HELICOPTERS FIRING MACHINE GUNS, MOVED INTO FARMLAND NEAR THE NORTHERN GAZA TOWN OF BEIT HANOUN, AN AREA REBELS USE TO FIRE ROCKETS.
