01/03/09

* Israeli troops enter Gaza Strip Israel has sent ground forces into the Gaza Strip after a week of air strikes to try to halt rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.

* Tens of thousands of IDF combat reservists called up As IDF troops swept into the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday night, the cabinet approved the call-up of tens of thousands of reservists.

* Bush: Hamas attacks are acts of terror US President George W. Bush on Friday branded the Hamas rocket attacks on Israel an "act of terror".

* Mashaal: Black fate awaits IDF in Gaza Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal on Friday warned Israel against continuing its military operation in Gaza.

* Rice: No end in sight to Gaza conflict US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday said the United States and key world allies were pushing hard for a "durable and sustainable" cease-fire in Gaza.

* Top Iran official holds talks with Syria on Gaza violence Syria's official news agency reported Saturday that a senior Iranian official visiting Damascus has held talks on Israel's weeklong offensive in Gaza with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

* European crowds urge end to Gaza op Demonstrators hurled shoes at the tall iron gates outside the British prime minister's residence in London.

* Palestinian police ban pro-Hamas rallies in West Bank Palestinian police violently cracked down on protests organized by their rivals in Hamas throughout the West Bank.

* Egyptians blame Hamas, yet are angry at Cairo as well A sustained Israeli ground operation in Gaza would sharply increase public pressure on President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt to do more to help the Palestinians of Gaza.