Israeli forces edge into Gaza city

It is getting close. Israel has done pretty well so far in terms of world opinion -- yes there have been massive protests etc but if you look at what has actually happened, for example what Eygpt and Lebanon have done, Israel seems to have come out ahead. Further fighting will not likely improve that. And Iran has seen Israel will be ruthless, as necessary, in national self interest. I suspect the fighting will end by, say, Tuesday.

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces edged into the Gaza Strip's most populous area on Sunday, killing at least 27 Palestinians in an offensive stepped up in defiance of international calls for a ceasefire.

Medical officials said about half of the Palestinian dead in the latest fighting in the Hamas-ruled territory were civilians.

"Israel is getting close to achieving the goals it set for itself," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his cabinet in Jerusalem, giving no timeframe for an end to the 16-day-long war.

"But patience, determination and effort are still needed to realize these goals in a manner that will change the security situation in the south," Olmert said, referring to Hamas rocket attacks that continued to hit Israeli towns.