Deaths in Gaza ground offensive

Israel's military said that one soldier was killed in the northern Gaza Strip early on Friday morning as the country expanded its offensive by sending in ground troops.

Hamas claimed to have ambushed Israeli troops in the northern town of Beit Lahiya, causing the soldier's death, but Israeli media reported the casualty was most likely the result of friendly fire between Israeli troops.

Speaking to Army Radio, Israel's chief military spokesperson, Brigadier General Moti Almoz said "there were a number of points of friction through the night," adding the military was investigating the circumstances behind the soldier's death.

The military said later in a statement that 14 militants had been killed in a number of battles throughout Thursday night and Friday morning.

Early on Friday, Palestinian officials said around 20 Palestinians had been killed since the Israeli ground offensive began.

The deaths brought the total Palestinian death toll to 258, in what until Thursday had been strictly an air offensive, Ashra al-Kidra, a spokesman for the Health Ministry in Gaza said via Twitter. Another 1,980 have been injured, he added.

The Israeli ground operation began late Thursday afterHamas rejected an Egyptian truce proposal and Palestinian militants launched rockets at Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the operation was launched to strike "terror tunnels" from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

link:17792606:A five-hour truce# on Thursday allowed many of the 1.7 million Gaza residents to leave their homes to buy food, water, which had become increasingly difficult since the conflict began last month.

Israeli military using 'very great force'

Armored vehicles, artillery and intelligence units as well as infantry have moved into Gaza and are conducting operations along with the air force and navy, the Israeli military said Thursday.

Chief military spokesman Moti Almoz called on Gaza residents to evacuate targeted areas, warning the "military is operating there with very great force."

The Israeli attacks have damaged water and electricity supplies in Gaza.

Since July 8, Israeli strikes have hit more than 2,000 targets in Gaza and Hamas launched nearly 1,500 rockets at Israel, the Israeli military has said.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged Israel to "do far more" to stop civilian casualties.

"There can be no military solution to this conflict," Ban said.

Israel last carried out a major ground offensive in Gaza in January 2009.

jlw/pfd (AP, dpa, AFP)