Gaza fighting on January 5

GAZA – Death tolls since Dec. 27: Palestinians at least 548, Israeli civilians 4, Israeli soldiers 4.

GAZA – Palestinian medics say all but 6 of about 60 people killed since ground assault began late on Jan. 3 were civilians.
JERUSALEM – Israeli army spokesman says ‘many dozens’ of Hamas fighters killed in ground offensive. Army says 6 soldiers wounded overnight, 2 seriously.
BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip – Witnesses say Israeli forces push into Beit Lahiya, ordering residents to leave. Gun battles in the east of the city of Gaza and in the north of the Strip. Hamas fighters using rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, Israeli fire from planes, helicopters and tanks.
JERUSALEM – Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak says the city of Gaza almost encircled, cutting it off from the rest of the Strip. Armoured forces have also cut other routes.
JERUSALEM – Barak says operation goes on until southern Israel can be deemed safe from attacks from Gaza.
BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip – Three people, described by medics as civilians, were killed in a blast at a mourning ceremony.
GAZA – A mother and three children from the Samouni family were killed when a tank shell struck their house east of the city, medical officials said.
BEACH REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip – Seven civilians from one family, the Abu Aishas, were killed in a shell explosion at their home.
GAZA – Hamas says its snipers have hit six Israeli soldiers.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip – The empty house of Hamas militant leader Mohammed Abu Shammala was bombed by Israeli forces, residents said.
GAZA – Four ambulances and three mobile clinics destroyed in bombing at Health Care Union, medical workers and witnesses said.
GAZA – Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad said they fired rockets into Israel, including improvised Kassams and Russian-made Grad, or Katyusha, missiles. Israeli police said 24 rockets landed on Monday, including at Ashdod and Beersheba, both about 30 km (20 miles) from Gaza. No one was hurt.
EREZ CROSSING – Red Cross officials abandoned an effort to bus several dozen foreign passport holders out of the Gaza Strip, citing security concerns near the northern frontier, the Austrian ambassador to Israel told reporters.
– Nampa-Reuters