Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault     

    JERUSALEM, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has decided to continue and if necessary intensify the army offensive in the Gaza Strip, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported Tuesday.

    The report said that Olmert made the decision late Monday after consultations with Defense Minister Amir Peretz and senior armyand intelligence officials.

    On early Tuesday, the Israel Air Force targeted a group of Palestinian militants near the Karni crossing between Israel and northern Gaza, seriously wounding two militants in farmland close to the town of Beit Hanun.

    Meanwhile, Israeli warplane fired a missile at a bridge near Beit Hanun in a bid to prevent Palestinian militants from transporting rockets into areas where they are launched at Israel.  

    Over 50 Palestinians including civilians have been killed since the start of the offensive on June 28 in a bid to free an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Palestinian militants and halt Palestinian rocket attacks.  Enditem