An Israeli soldier carries a shell at an artillery position at the northern border of Gaza Strip, July 3£¬2006. (Xinhua Photo) More Photos>>>

    GAZA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Israeli army resumed its ground operation in Gaza on Monday night as dozens of army tanks, Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), vehicles and bulldozers incurred into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, Palestinian eyewitnesses and security sources reported. 

    Eyewitnesses in the town said that they saw from the top roofs of their homes in the town columns of tanks turning their front lights in the middle of darkness and moving to reoccupy the town with 30,000 populations.

    Security officials asserted that the Israeli army resumed its "Summer Rains" ground military offensive into the Gaza Strip, which was postponed on Friday night to give diplomatic efforts another chance to free an Israeli captive soldier.

    Gilad Shalit, a 19-year-old Israeli Corporal was captured by Palestinian militants in an attack against Israeli army position southeast of Gaza-Israel border on June 25.

    In responds to the deadly attack, Israeli troops launched an operation dubbed "Summer Rains" against the Gaza Strip last Wednesday in a bid to rescue the soldier kidnapped by Palestinian militants.

    The operation is the first major Israeli military ground move in the Gaza Strip since Israel quit the desert coastal strip last summer after 38 years of occupation.

    However, the kidnappers said that they would only free the soldier if Israel releases some 1,400 prisoners in Israeli jails. Israel has so far rejected a prisoner swap, insisting on the unconditional release of Shalit. Enditem