. Israel intensified its 11-day campaign against Hamas by sending in tanks and troops late Thursday after becoming increasingly exasperated with unrelenting rocket fire from Gaza on its cities, especially following Hamas’ rejection of an Egyptian cease-fire plan earlier in the week.(AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel was preparing for a possible widening of its ground war in the Gaza Strip, a day after its troops crossed into the territory and the death toll from the 11-day-old operation, including that of the first Israeli soldier, rose. Israel called up 18,000 reserve troops overnight as it began what it described as a targeted operation to wipe out tunnels from which Hamas and other militant groups operate, a gambit Mr Netanyahu said might be broadened into a bigger ground war. More On […]