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Israel completes hit list, prepares to end offensive

Wednesday, January 7, 2009 Free Headline Alerts

TEL AVIV — Israel's military has begun winding down operations against the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip.

Military sources said the General Staff has told the government that fighting in the Gaza Strip could end as early as Jan. 9. The sources said that the military has destroyed virtually all of its targets set in the war against Hamas.

"The operation could be over during the next 72 hours," a senior military officer said on Jan. 6.

The sources said the air force and army were exhausting their targets set during Operation Cast Lead, launched on Dec. 27. They said the prospect of an ground invasion of Gaza City, the main stronghold of Hamas, was unlikely.

On Jan. 6, Israeli aircraft and main battle tanks struck Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza City and Khan Yunis. But infantry forces stayed away from both cities amid orders by the government to avoid an urban war with Hamas.

"Hamas is ready for us in their cities, and we don't want to fall into their trap," the senior officer said. "Instead, we are trying to draw them out of their strongholds."

At this point, the military has been deployed on the outskirts of Gaza City and Khan Yunis. At least five soldiers have been killed in a 24-hour period, several of them by friendly fire.

"We can't remain in one place and not expect to take casualties," a field officer said.

The military sources said senior commanders were expecting orders to reduce activity in the Gaza Strip by Jan. 9. They cited Western and Arab efforts to draft a ceasefire resolution in the United Nations Security Council.

An Egyptian proposal endorsed by the United States has called for an immediate ceasefire and the end of the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. France has demanded an Israeli response to the Egyptian proposal on Jan. 7, and the Cabinet was scheduled to convene during the day.

"Under no circumstances will we agree to a new calm that will allow them [Hamas] to increase their range to 60 kilometers so we have rockets falling on the outskirts of Tel Aviv," Mark Regev, a spokesman for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said.

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