Gaza City (CNN) -- The Israeli military launched a ground operation into Gaza late Thursday, the government said.
The much-anticipated operation follows some of the most intense fighting in the 10 days of bombings and airstrikes between Israel and Hamas.
Palestinian medical and security sources say 240 people have been killed in Gaza, including at least seven children who died Thursday, and about 1,800 injured. Israel says one of its citizens has died.
A statement from the Israel Defense Forces said: "The IDF's objective as defined by the Israeli government is to establish a reality in which Israeli residents can live in safety and security without continues indiscriminate terror, while striking a significant blow to Hamas' terror infrastructure.
"This stage of operation 'Protective Edge,' led by the IDF's Southern Command, will include close coordination between IDF units including infantry, armored corps, engineer corps, artillery, and intelligence combined with aerial and naval support. This effort will also be supported by the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) and other intelligence organizations."
Before the ground operation was launched, Gaza experienced one of the worst nights of fighting Thursday since the war began after a temporary cease-fire ended, CNN reporter Ian Lee said.
"Periodic fire balls illuminate the sky over Gaza," he said. "We see rockets screech toward the sky. Minutes later we see an intercepting missile rise from the iron dome, reducing the rocket into confetti of light and fire.
"We've seen red tracer rounds fly across the horizon. The repetitive thud of naval guns echoes throughout the coastal strip."
A 4-year-old girl was killed in an Israeli airstrike near the customs building in Khan Younis, Palestinian medical and security sources said, and another airstrike killed a 29-year-old man east of Khan Younis.
Aqsa TV reported that an Israeli was killed and another injured in shelling of Ashkelon and that seven Israeli soldiers were injured in an attack on a military location.
Aqasa TV also reported that Israeli gunboats near Baiet Lahiya north of Gaza strip, fired at the homes of residents.
During the cease-fire, at least three mortar shells were fired from Gaza, injuring an Israeli soldier, Israeli military sources said.
CNN's Ben Wedeman said late Thursday that flashes coming from artillery of tank fire could be seen along the eastern border in the direction of Khan Younis and to the east of Shajai'a.
These flashes were preceded by a series of air strikes on the Zaitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, he said.
"There is more incoming than we've seen in the last 10 days," he said.
Despite those incidents, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said both sides had "mostly respected" the temporary cease-fire between Hamas and Israel. The United National requested the five-hour lull for humanitarian reasons.
"The pause shows that a cessation of hostilities is possible if all the parties demonstrate the necessary will and put the interests of civilians, who have borne the brunt of this escalation, first," Ban said in a statement.
At least 235 Palestinians have been killed and close to 1,769 have been injured since Israel began its anti-Hamas military operation July 7, according to Palestinian health officials.
Amid all the military action, the Israeli Cabinet planned to meet at 11 a.m. Friday.
Topic: Israel launches ground invasion into Gaza (Read 388 times)