IDF LAUNCHES RAIDS ON GAZA

47 Palestinians killed during ongoing IDF raids in Gaza Strip (JPost)
Two IDF soldiers were killed and five others wounded during a military operation meant to combat the ongoing Palestinian rocket fire on Israeli cities in the western Negev. Forty-seven Palestinians have been killed on Saturday and at least 40 were wounded throughout the day.

One soldier was killed when a Palestinian threw an explosive device towards him and
the second soldier was killed during a gun battle that had ensued between his force and Palestinian terrorists.

St.-Sgt. Maj. Doron Asulin, 20, from Beersheba and St.-Sgt. Maj. Eran Dan-Gur, 20, from Jerusalem are the two soldiers killed during Saturday's events. Both troops served in the Givati Brigade's reconnaissance battalion. Their families have been notified of their deaths.

Of the five troops lightly-to moderately wounded, one was an officer.

According to Palestinian sources, at least 16 of those killed were civilians, including a baby reported to have been struck when a Palestinian rocket misfired, as well as two teenagers. Palestinian gunmen bombarded Israel with at least 44 rockets and mortar rounds the evening, undeterred by Israeli troops backed by tanks and attack aircrafts.

Later Saturday evening, the IAF bombed a truck filled with over a hundred rockets as well as several terrorists. It was unknown whether they were killed.

Meanwhile, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. -Gen Gabi Ashkenazi, as well as other members of the army's general staff, were meeting with defense officials in Jerusalem to discuss the escalation of violence on Saturday evening, Army Radio reported.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was set to meet with defense officials including Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the military and Shin Bet heads to listen to evaluations and suggestions relating to the situation.

In all, 77 Palestinians have been killed since clashes between Israel and Hamas terrorists sparked Wednesday when an Israeli student at Sapir College in Sderot was killed by a Kassam rocket.

Bloody Israeli-Hamas clashes escalate in Gaza (MSNBC)
A least 54 Palestinians killed in fighting ahead of Rice visit
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Israeli troops backed by tanks and aircraft went after Gaza militants who bombarded southern Israel with rockets and mortars Saturday, killing 54 Palestinians in the deadliest day in Gaza since Islamic Hamas militants seized control in June.

As many as two dozen civilians died in the fighting, including at least two babies and two children. Two Israel soldiers were also killed. Gaza Health Ministry official Dr. Moaiya Hassanain said 160 people were wounded and 14 were in critical condition.

The intense battles pushed the Palestinian death toll to 76 since fighting flared Wednesday. About 40 of them were civilians.