Photo Gallery: The Bloody War against Hamas

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Heavy artillery fire: Israeli artillery guns fire toward Gaza Strip from the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border.

Foto: AFP

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Following eight days of air strikes, Israel started a ground offensive in Gaza on January 3. Tens of thousands of military reservists were called back to duty through a major telephone action.

Foto: AFP

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A destroyed home in Sderot: A family in Israel attempts to salvage a few belongings from their home, which was destroyed by a rocket fired from Gaza.

Foto: Getty Images

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Fleeing Palestinians: Women flee their Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip as battles between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters take place in the area on Sunday.

Foto: AFP

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An Israeli military helicopter over the northern Gaza Strip: Israeli troops have been advancing since Sunday morning as they surrounded Gaza City.

Foto: AP

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An Israel infantry soldier: Shortly before the invasion, a soldier prays.

Foto: DPA

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An Israeli soldier observes the enemy line: Despite heavy fighting, Israeli troops are already entering Gaza City and have taken control of the most important roads in the Gaza Strip.

Foto: Getty Images

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Rear guard: An Israeli soldier prepares for his deployment near the Kibbutz Nahal Oz. The Israeli government has said it is prepared to dramatically expand fighting if need be.

Foto: REUTERS

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A wounded Palestinian is carried into hospital in Gaza on Sunday.

Foto: REUTERS

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The battle against Hamas: A shell fired by Israeli forces explodes over the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday.

Foto: REUTERS

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More explosions from Israeli fire are seen over the northern Gaza Strip. Thousands of Israeli troops backed by tanks and helicopter gunships pushed deeper into Gaza on Sunday, fighting militants at close range and surrounding the coastal territory's largest city in the first full day of an overwhelming ground offensive.

Foto: AP

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Artillery fire: Israel plans to take over areas from which Palestinian rockets have been fired into Israeli territory.

Foto: AFP

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Smoke billows over Gaza City: Rescue workers claim that at least 19 Palestinians were killed in heavy combat on Sunday.

Foto: AFP

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At least 524 Palestinians have been killed, at least a quarter of them civilians, a UN agency said. Forty-two, mostly civilians, were killed on Sunday, a medical source said.

Foto: AFP

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Lasting fire: An Israeli army mobile artillery unit fires a shell towards Gaza.

Foto: REUTERS

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There have also been casualties on the Israeli side: The soldier pictured here is being rushed into a hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beersheva after being wounded in a ground operation against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

Foto: AFP

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A tank assault: With this weekend's ground offensive, Operation Cast Lead entered into its second phase. According to the Israeli Army, a considerable number of troops are participating in the battle.

Foto: AFP