Israel announces "humanitarian corridor" for Gaza Strip (1st Lead)

Jan 7, 2009, 4:51 GMT

   Tel Aviv - Israel plans to establish a 'humanitarian corridor' to get needed supplies to Palestinian civilians in the embattled Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced overnight Tuesday.

   On Wednesday morning, meanwhile, Israel kept up its military campaign against Hamas in the enclave, with the air force, navy and artillery striking around 30 targets since midnight, an Israeli military spokesman said.

   Targets included rocket launching sites, as well as tunnels and bunkers constructed between houses in built-up areas, the spokesman said.

   The humanitarian corridor plan would allow limited time windows to get humanitarian supplies into parts of the Palestinian territory, Olmert's office announced in a statement.

   Gaza has been blockaded by Israel for months. Israel began bombing the Strip on December 27, after massive rocket barrages from the salient on its southern towns and villages following the end of a truce on December 19.

   On Saturday evening the army was ordered into the Strip, which has since seen heavy ground fighting.

   International aid groups have accused Israel of causing a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, a charge Israel denies, saying that since the Israeli operation began it has been allowing aid into the salient.