Israel pounds Gaza as soldiers skirmish with Hamas

Israel bombarded Gaza with more air strikes on Monday as its soldiers fought Hamas militants on the ground in raids within the besieged Palestinian enclave. In signs that the conflict was spreading, Israeli aircraft also struck southern Lebanon overnight and Israeli troops fought Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, residents said. The United Nations said desperate civilians were running out of food, water and places to shelter from the unrelenting aerial pounding that has flattened swathes of Hamas-ruled Gaza. Some aid was trickling over one border crossing into Gaza – but only a fraction of the amount needed. Gaza authorities say at least 4,600 people have been killed in a two-week Israeli bombardment. That was triggered by an Oct. 7 assault on Israeli communities by Hamas militants who killed 1,400 people and took more than 200 hostage. Both Israel and Hamas reported overnight clashes in Gaza. Israel said ground forces mounted limited raids to fight Palestinian gunmen and that air strikes were being focussed on sites where Hamas was assembling to attack any wider Israeli invasion. @@@