Waves of Israeli aircraft swooped over the Gaza Strip on Saturday, firing missiles at Hamas’s security headquarters and killing more than 200 people.
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Israel pounded Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip from the air Sunday for a second day and prepared for a possible invasion after killing nearly 290 Palestinians in the opening rounds of a fierce offensive.
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Israel said the campaign that began Saturday was a response to almost daily rocket and mortar fire that intensified after Hamas, the Islamist group in charge of the enclave that Israel quit in 2005, ended a six-month ceasefire a week ago.
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Despite the assault, militants fired some 80 rockets into Israel, emergency services said.
Israeli tanks deployed on the edge of the Gaza Strip, poised to enter the densely populated enclave of 1.5 million Palestinians.
.Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's cabinet approved a call-up of 6,500 reservists, a government official said.
Source: Reuters - 29/Dec/2008.