Artillery fire resumes in Gaza

GAZA, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Artillery fire and explosions resumed Tuesday in Gaza, even though Israeli officials have suggested the military operation may soon be coming to a close.

Israeli officials said Monday they conducted about 15 airstrikes overnight, fewer than other recent nights, as troops pushed deeper into Gaza. Senior Israeli officials said they think the Hamas military win is beginning to falter and Hamas leaders inside Gaza were seeking a cease-fire, The New York Times said.

Israel is "getting close to achieving the goals it set for itself," adding, "more patience, determination and effort are still needed." the country's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in Jerusalem during a cabinet meeting. He offered no timetable.

The resumption of artillery strikes Tuesday, reported by CNN, came one day after Israeli warplanes attacked five Hamas operatives in the militant-controlled strip, also striking weapons supply locations, tunnels and other targets, as Israeli gunboats fired from the sea.

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said in a speech Monday his forces "are closer to victory than ever."

"These precious bloods will not be wasted for nothing," he said.

Egyptian officials planned Monday to begin brokering negotiations aimed at a cease-fire in Gaza, where the Israeli military effort to stop Hamas from firing rockets on Israeli targets began Dec. 27, the Times said.

Nearly 900 people have been killed, Palestinian health professionals said. Thirteen Israelis have been killed, Israel said.

Israel and the United States have said any agreement must include a Hamas commitment to stop all rocket fire into Israel and an Egyptian commitment to block smuggling tunnels into Gaza used for, among other things, bringing weapons to Hamas. In return, Israel would agree to a cease-fire and open its crossings into Gaza for goods and fuel, and open the Rafah crossing into Egypt under European Union supervision.

If the Egyptian effort fails, Israeli officials said, the military is likely to go to a "third stage" of the war against Hamas in Gaza with reserve troops.