Israel pushes into central Gaza Strip

GAZA - Israeli tanks and troops pushed into the central Gaza Strip today, expanding a two-week-old offensive aimed at recovering a captured soldier and stopping rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.

Israel has rejected international criticism of its biggest operation in the Gaza Strip since abandoning the territory last year after 38 years of occupation, vowing to continue the offensive indefinitely.

A Palestinian policeman was killed after clashes erupted between gunmen and Israeli forces near the town of Deir el Balah, residents said.

Militants tried to fire makeshift rockets towards the Kissufim border crossing as a column of dozens of armoured vehicles and hundreds of soldiers pushed into central Gaza, but the rockets appeared to fall short of the troops.

"Our main target is the terrorist infrastructure -- the rocket crews, the gunmen, the arms caches," said Israeli commander Colonel Yoel, who could not give his last name.

"But of course we are here to show that if, God forbid, any of us is captured by the enemy, the army will do everything to secure his return."

Israel sent a force into southern Gaza on June 28, three days after Corporal Gilad Shalit was abducted by militants who tunnelled their way under the border fence. Later, Israeli tanks entered northern Gaza after rockets fired from the area fell on a major city.

Israel has repeatedly rejected demands from militants of the ruling Hamas Islamist group to free Palestinian prisoners from its jails in exchange for Shilat's release. Hamas fighters helped capture the 19-year-old tank gunner.

About 60 Palestinians, at least 20 of them civilians, have been killed since the Israeli offensive began.

The European Union and United Nations have criticised the Israeli operation and said they fear a humanitarian crisis in the densely populated seaside territory of 1.4 million.

The Israeli army says that it has continued to permit tonnes of food, fuel and medical supplies into Gaza despite the closure, and rejects the idea that there are any shortages.

- REUTERS