Israel has not yet met all Gaza aims, Barak says (Extra)

Jan 5, 2009, 9:42 GMT

Jerusalem - Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip will continue, since its aims have not yet been met, Defence Minister Ehud Barak said Monday.

But, Israeli media quoted him as telling the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, ground troops operating in the salient had achieved the goals set for them and the operation was proceeding as planned.

He said the Islamist Hamas movement, against whom the Israeli operation is directed, has absorbed 'a serious blow.'

Barak added that international diplomatic contacts regarding the operation were continuing, and said the aim of the Israeli offensive was change the situation in southern Israel, and to reach a point where the Gaza Strip would no longer serve as a base for attacks against Israelis.

Israel launched its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip on December 27, after militants had fired around 200 missiles at the southern Israeli towns and villages in wake of a truce which ended on December 19.

For the first week the offensive was conducted though incessant air raids, but on Saturday night Israeli ground troops crossed into the enclave.

At least 527 Palestinians have been killed since the offensive got under way, and around 2500 wounded.

Three Israeli civilians and one soldier have been killed, and dozens more wounded, by the rockets fired from the Strip since the offensive got underway.

An additional Israeli soldier was killed, and over 30 wounded, in ground fighting in Gaza.