Gaza fighting continues
Published:Monday | January 5, 2009 | 8:46 AM
Fighting raged into the night in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli ground forces and heavy armour have effectively cut the territory in two.
Supported by a naval, air and land bombardment, they have taken up positions on either side of Gaza City and along a major east-west road.
Reporters say about 40 tanks were moving towards Khan Younis in the south.
Palestinian officials say 70 people have been killed in the ground assault.
One Israeli soldier has been killed.
Earlier, US Vice-President Dick Cheney defended the Israeli ground offensive, saying air attacks were not enough to destroy rocket sites.
He also said Israel had not sought US approval before launching the ground attack.
The Palestinian health ministry says 509 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the Israelis began their assault on Gaza eight days ago.