Haaretz: Large numbers of forces are taking part in this stage of the operation including infantry, tanks, engineering forces, artillery and intelligence with the support of the Israel Air Force, Israel navy, the Shin Bet security service and other security agencies. Meanwhile, the cabinet has authorized an emergency call up of tens of thousands of IDF reservists. The invasion stepped up airstrikes on Gaza, bombing the main road that runs throughout the strip in three different spots, making travel from one side of the Strip to the other close to impossible. Palestinian health officials in Gaza reported Saturday evening that 13 people had been killed in another IAF bombing of a mosque in Beit Lahiya. They said that 26 Palestinians had died in IAF raids after dark Saturday.
Saturday's incident brought the Palestinian death toll to at least 446, with about 2,050 wounded... The plight of the 1.5 million Palestinians crammed into Gaza was growing more desperate even before the mosque was hit. People sheltered in their homes and humanitarian agencies warned that food, water and medical supplies were running short. 'Nobody feels safe,' and International Committee of the Red Cross worker said in a report on the body's website. 'The problem is that we have nowhere to run for shelter.' Bombs have damaged the water system and utilities were barely functioning. The electric power plant has shut down and the sanitation system cannot treat the sewage. In the winter cold, fuel for heating and cooking gas was no longer available, aid agencies said. 'We do not sleep at night. We stayed awake the whole night because of the planes,' said Umm Kamel, a mother of 11.
