Israeli troops flood Gaza capital

GAZA, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Israeli forces drove into the capital of Gaza Sunday following a missile barrage that burned an estimated 20 homes in southern Gaza, officials said.

Israeli troops and tanks carried out the assault as smoke resulting from artillery attacks and airstrikes filled the air, the Los Angeles Times reported. Troops withdrew after hours of heavy fighting, the Times said.

In the village where homes were burned, doctors treating civilians for burns and gas inhalation said they suspected Israeli forces had fired white phosphorus shells, which are used for nighttime illumination in battle or for providing smoke screen cover, the Times said.

Hamas fighters fired on Israeli forces with mortars, automatic rifles and grenades in what the newspaper said was the heaviest fighting in the 16 days since Israel attacked Gaza. Israel said the offensive is intended to put a stop to persistent rocket attacks from Gaza.

Palestinian militants in Gaza hit Israel with at least 17 more rockets Sunday as Israeli warplanes struck Hamas targets, CNN reported.

The violence came as Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai told Israel Radio his country's military offensive in Gaza may be nearing completion. After noting that a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding a cease-fire "doesn't leave us much leeway," Vilnai reportedly added, "It would seem then, I'm guessing, that we are close to the end of the ground operation and the end of the operation altogether."

Palestinian medical sources said four Gaza residents, including a pregnant woman, were killed Sunday morning, bringing the estimated number of those killed to at least 828 since the start of the Israeli offensive.

Other sources said the fresh fighting came after a girl was killed and 49 others were severely burned by fires caused by Israeli shelling in southern Gaza Saturday, where several buildings, including a U.N. school, ignited near Khan Younes.

Palestinian sources also told CNN a family of nine was killed in the village of Jebalya in northern Gaza when a shell hit their home. But an Israeli army spokesman said the military was "not operating in the area of this house, and no fire was directed in that direction."