Israeli ground troops fought heavy battles with Palestinians on Gaza City's outskirts Monday, DPA reported. At least seven Palestinians, among them two women and two children, were killed as Israel used tanks and artillery shelling, as well as air support in the fighting, which concentrated on Gaza City's southern and eastern-most neighbourhoods of Sheikh Ajleen, Tal el-Hawa, Zaytoun, Sheja'eya and al-Tufa. Heavy gunbattles were also taking place east of Khan Younis, in the south and east of Jabaliya and Beit Lahiya, in the north, Palestinian witnesses told local radio stations. The Palestinian toll on day 17 of Israel's Gaza offensive now stood at more than 900 killed and 4,100 injured, said Gaza emergency services chief Mo'aweya Hassanein. Thirteen Israelis have been killed and dozens injured. The Israel Air Force meanwhile also kept up its attacks in Gaza, striking more targets from the air overnight, albeit a significantly smaller number than in the earlier stages of the war.
