| January 4, 2009 Hamas: 'Israel will pay the price'
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(NECN/ABC) - Thousands of Israeli soldiers continued their push into Gaza on Sunday.
"What can we do?" one Israeli Army reservist asked. "This is the situation and we need to defend ourselves."
Supported by tanks, artillery and aircraft, Israeli ground forces moved in, surrounding cities, cutting off Hamas' ability to move or transport weapons.
Heavy fighting took its toll on Gazans -- at least 45 have been killed since the ground operation began. Among them, a mother and her three daughters, and three ambulance drivers.
The Israeli Military said dozens of Hamas fighters were killed. Despite the heavy show of force, Hamas still fired 30 rockets at cities in southern Israel.
"This operation can finish tomorrow, if we can understand that the people of southern Israel will no longer be on the receiving end of deadly Hamas rockets from Gaza," Israeli spokesman Mark Regev said.
There has been no such luck, yet.
"Irael, you will carry the corpses of your soldiers back home," Hamas spokesman Hmaed Bitawi said in Nablus. "You will pay the price."
Around the world, the protests against the Israeli offensive grew. In Istanbul, Turkey and Rabat, Morocco, millions of people poured into the streets demanding a ceasefire.
There is not likely to be one anytime soon. Israel wants to punish Hamas and get a ceasefire on its terms. As Israel pours more troops and tanks into Gaza, the fighting will get more intense
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