Israel throws reservists into Gaza battles

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel threw reservists into battle in the Gaza Strip on Sunday and at least 31 Palestinians were killed on the 16th day of a devastating offensive Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said was close to achieving its aims.

The reservists had been held back until now, as Israeli leaders ponder a full-scale assault on Gaza's towns and cities to try to destroy Hamas's ability to fire rockets into Israel.

"We have begun to integrate reservist forces into the action in the Gaza Strip," military spokesman Avi Benayahu said on Israel's Channel 2 TV. "We aren't acting in panic, but cautiously."

His phrasing left it unclear whether Israeli forces had been ordered to storm into built-up areas, risking higher military casualties as well as heavy civilian losses.

Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met to discuss their next move, Israel radio said, predicting more attacks on smuggling tunnels used by Hamas on the Gaza-Egyptian border, and possibly a wider operation.

Thick black smoke rose over the city of Gaza as fighting raged on in the Hamas-ruled territory in defiance of a U.N. Security Council demand for a ceasefire. Medical workers said about half the Palestinians killed on Sunday were civilians.

"Israel is getting close to achieving the goals it set for itself," Olmert told his cabinet in Jerusalem.