Israel Threatens to Expand Gaza Offensive

 JERUSALEM — Israel’s military offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip is continuing for a fifth day, and there has been no let up in the Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel. In all, at least 53 Palestinians have been killed, including 24 civilians¹, and three Israeli civilians have also died.

Israel launched dozens of air strikes Sunday on Gaza, targeting the ruling Islamic militant² group Hamas. The military said warplanes hit Palestinian rocket-launching sites, a training base and a command center. Two media centers housing Palestinian and foreign journalists were also hit in Gaza City.

Israel said the aim of the operation is to stop Palestinian rocket attacks, but that goal has not been achieved.

Hamas and other Palestinian groups fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel, damaging cars, houses and apartment buildings.

Israel’s Iron Dome³ defense⁴ system intercepted⁵ many of the rockets, including two that were fired at Tel Aviv. The Israeli-made system, which fires interceptor missiles, has knocked more than 200 Palestinian rockets out of the sky since the conflict began on Wednesday.

At the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has attacked more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, and he issued a tough warning.

“We are exacting⁶ a heavy price from Hamas and other terrorist organizations,” Mr. Netanyahu said, “and the army is prepared to significantly expand the offensive.”

That could include a possible ground assault. The military has called up thousands of reservists and is massing armor and troops on the Gaza border.

The specter of a bloody⁷ ground invasion has prompted Egypt to step up efforts for a cease-fire. A senior member of Hamas, Mousa Abu Marzook, met with Egyptian officials in Cairo.

Abu Marzook said Hamas supports a return to normalcy and a truce⁸. But he set out conditions, namely that Israel must end air strikes on Gaza and stop the targeted killings⁹ of Hamas military commanders.

Egypt said a senior Israeli official has arrived in Cairo for talks on a cease-fire.

1 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

3 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

6 exacting   

adj.苛求的，要求严格的

参考例句：

• He must remember the letters and symbols with exacting precision.他必须以严格的精度记住每个字母和符号。
• The public has been more exacting in its demands as time has passed.随着时间的推移，公众的要求更趋严格。

7 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

8 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

9 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。