The Israeli army attacked Gaza on Wednesday, stepping up their military offensive on Palestinians in a bid to pressurise militants holding a 19-year-old Israeli soldier captive.
Israeli tanks and troops moved in to position near the town of Rafah, according to Palestinian security officials. So far strikes have destroyed three bridges and left the coastal strip without electricity.
The raids follow Hamas' acceptance of a document on Tuesday that implicitly recognises Israel in an attempt to ease tensions between the two countries.
Israel has ignored US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's plea for them to "give diplomacy a chance" and sent in warplanes early Wednesday morning, flying low over Gaza causing sonic booms and breaking windows.
The Israeli military said in a statement that the object of the attacks on the bridges was "to impair the ability of the terrorists to transfer the kidnapped soldier."
No causalities have been reported in the attacks as yet.
Israel only wants to secure soldier's release
Israeli National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer told Israel Radio on Wednesday, "We have no desire to remain in the Gaza Strip." "We want to bring our boy home, that's all," he added.
No timetable for the operation has been announced.
Official comments on the Gaza invasion
"This Israeli military escalation is unjustified. Waging such military madness on a grand scale will have big consequences."
Ghazi Hamad
Hamas government spokesman
"We do not intend to reoccupy Gaza. We do not intend to stay there. We have one objective, and that is to bring Gilat home." "We won't hestitate to carry out extreme action to bring Gilad back to his family."
Ehud Olmert
Israeli Prime Minister
