Word: fire
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...Hamas commanders believe that even their goal of surviving and remaining in control of Gaza after Operation Cast Lead is slipping beyond their grasp, in the hope that this will make the organization more likely to accept Israel's truce terms. The armed "negotiation" over Gaza's next cease-fire, then, has entered what will likely be its most intense phase...
...Israeli military officials tell TIME that one soldier was killed and some 30 Israelis were wounded. Half the injuries were the result of an Israeli mine-clearing operation that went awry. Other soldiers were hurt in mortar fire from Hamas militants. Palestinian sources say 30 locals have been killed since the beginning of the ground offensive on Jan. 3. That brings the death toll to 485 Palestinians and four Israelis since Dec. 27, when Israel began its aerial strikes in an effort to deter militants from launching more missiles into southern Israel. (See pictures of the beginning of Israel...
...Early signs indicate that the military may have achieved that objective, at least temporarily. Although mortar fire rained on the advancing Israeli troops in the first few hours of the ground offensive, the number of rockets launched into Israel dropped drastically, to just 20 or so in the past...
...Resistance has been lighter than the Israelis expected, allowing Israeli troops and tanks to secure positions 1,000 ft. (300 m) or so from the edge of built-up areas. At that distance, they are out of range of Palestinian rifle fire, though still within mortar range...
...worried that its control of Gaza will collapse and is already discussing ways it can push for peace while still maintaining the appearance of defiance. Israeli officials reportedly say that the ground offensive will last a "few weeks" and that the two sides will then negotiate a new cease-fire. Israel wants to use that time to severely weaken Hamas' military capabilities. A day into the ground campaign, officials feel confident that they're doing just that. A message sent by the Israeli chief of staff to his troops just before the ground offensive began captures the mood well...