Israeli ground forces push deeper into Gaza as 3 Israeli soldiers are killed in a so-called "friendly fire" incident - je 06.01.2009 08

Fighting continues across the Gaza Strip today, with reports of heavy gunbattles overnight in both the north and in the city of Khan Yunis in the south. The Israeli army said three of its soldiers died and 24 were wounded when one of its own tanks accidentally fired at their position. Medics in Gaza report that at least 560 Palestinians have been killed since the offensive began, nearly 100 of them children. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned Parliament on Monday that the main test for the country's troops could still lie ahead. +++ SYN-MAZ +++