IsraelexpandsgroundoperationinGazaasPalestiniandeathtollexceeds8,000_GuangmingOnlineJERUSALEM,Oct.29(Xinhua)--IsraelexpandedonSundayitsgroundoperationintheGazaStripandintensifiedtheairstrikeinthebesiegedenclave,asthedeathtollinGazaroseto8,005.TwodaysaftersendingsoldiersintotheGazaStrip,IsraelDefenseForces(IDF)SpokesmanDanielHagaritoldapressbriefingthatthemilitary"expandedtheentryofIDFtroopsintotheGazaStrip."HesaidthatthecurrentgroundoperationsarefocusedonthenorthernGazaStrip,andtheyare"graduallyexpandingthegroundactivityandthescopeofourforcesintheGazaStrip."ThemovecameasIsraelmassedtensofthousandsoftroopsalongtheGazaborderaheadofamassivegroundoffensive.IsraeliDefenseMinisterYoavGallantonSundaymetwithrepresentativesoffamiliesofabout230peoplekidnappedbyHamasduringtheirOct.7attackonIsrael.Hesaidthattheexpectedgroundoffensiveis"partoftheefforttoreturnthehostages."PalestinianmilitantsapproachedtheErezCrossing,themainpedestriancrossingpointbetweenIsraelandGaza.TheIsraeliarmysaidinastatementthattheyexitedashaftofatunnelnearthecrossing,addingthesoldierskilledandinjuredthe"terrorists"followingidentification.Additionally,aircraftguidedbyIDFtroopsstrucktwostaginggroundsofHamasandkilledseveralmilitants,accordingtothemilitary.Alsointheday,theHamas-runHealthMinistrysaidinastatementthedeathtollofPalestiniansfromIsraelistrikesontheGazaStriproseto8,005,whilemorethan20,000Palestinianshavebeeninjuredsincethefightingbrokeout.About1,400Israeliswerekilled,themajorityofthemintheHamasoffensivethatoccurredthreeweeksago,whileabout230peoplearebeingheldcaptivebyHamas.Meanwhile,intheWestBank,atleastfourPalestinianswerekilledbygunfirefromIsraelisecurityforcesduringclashesinvariousareas,accordingtothePalestinianRedCrescentSociety.IranianForeignMinisterHosseinAmir-AbdollahianheldtwoseparatephonestalkswithhisSaudiandQataricounterpartsonSundaytodiscussthelatestsituationinGaza,callingforcollectiveeffortstostopIsraeliattacksagainstciviliansinGaza,and"constantandextensive"aiddeliverytotheenclave.OntheIsraeli-Lebaneseborder,confrontationsexpandedatnightfallasseveralrocketswerefiredfromLebanontowardRoshPina,atownintheUpperGalilee,markingthefarthestpointtodatetowhichrocketsfromLebanonhavebeenfired.However,theIsraelimilitarystatedinareleasethattheywereinterceptedbytheIronDomeaerialdefensesystem.Meanwhile,IsraelalsostrucktargetsinsouthernLebanon,sayingtheywereHezbollahpostsorareasfromwhichrocketswerefiredatnorthernIsrael.■Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.