Israel widens offensive, thousands of Gazans flee homes

Israel for the first time today launched a ground operation inside northern Gaza to silence Hamas rocket fire and thousands of Palestinians fled their homes after the Israeli military threatened to widen its assault that has killed nearly 170 people in six days.
Ignoring global calls for a ceasefire, Israeli troops - thought to be naval commandos - briefly entered Gaza early today and raided a missile launching site. This is the first time Israeli forces have acknowledged they've entered Gaza in what appeared to be the ground assault.
Israel has been building up its troops along the border with northern Gaza, fuelling speculation of a possible ground invasion.

During the incursion, which lasted about half an hour, both sides exchanged gunfire at the launch site, an Israeli military source said.
Four Israeli troops suffered light injuries, but all the soldiers returned home safely, the source said.
The Israeli jets later dropped leaflets at Beit Lahiya, home to about 100,000 people, warning residents to evacuate their homes ahead of their "short and temporary" campaign to begin today.

"The Israeli Defense Forces intends to attack terrorists and terror infrastructures ..." the leaflets said, mentioning a list of areas that will be targeted.
"Israel is currently attacking, and will continue to attack, every area from which rockets are being launched at its territory."

More than 4,000 Gaza residents had taken refuge at eight bases of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, spokesman Chris Gunness said.
Meanwhile, around 800 Palestinians holding dual citizenship have reportedly begun leaving Gaza via Israel's Erez Crossing.
Israel carried out overnight air strikes against Gaza's security headquarters and police stations, in the heaviest bombardment since operations began on July 8.
A senior security official has said the operation in northern Gaza is necessary because the area accounts for far more rocket attacks than other areas.
The IDF struck 200 targets in Gaza over the past 24 hours, including civilian institutions and mosques with suspected Hamas ties. The other targets include 53 underground rocket launchers, 11 rocket production and storage centers, nine Hamas command and control centers, and five training camps.