Special report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts          

    GAZA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Israeli tanks on Monday entered densely populated areas of the Zayton neighborhood in southern Gaza City, exchanging fire fiercely with Hamas militants, local witness said.

    Witness said that the Palestinian militants stationed in the area are attacking the Israeli tanks and Armored Personnel Carriers with RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades), anti-tank missiles and roadside bombs. Militants are also engaged in fierce gun battles with the Israeli army.

    In return, the Israeli tanks opened fire at some of the buildings in the neighborhood.

    Mo'aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency and ambulance services in the Palestinian health ministry, expressed fear that there could be heavy casualties in the area, but the ambulance and paramedics can't enter at this time due to heavy exchange of fire between the two sides.

    Hassanein also called on the International Red Cross (IRC) to intervene immediately to coordinate the entrance of the rescuers.

    Meanwhile, residents also reported that heavy exchange of fire also took place near Jabaria, northern Gaza Strip.

    Residents said there were fierce, face-to-face gun battle going on between the Israeli army ground troops and the Palestinian militants.

    Rescue crews could not get close to the site either.

    The Israeli army forces continued on Monday military operations into the Gaza Strip for the tenth consecutive day, killing at least 24 people in the day, most of them were civilians, according to previous report by Gaza medics.

    Hassanein put the death toll since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip on Dec. 27 at 530 people killed and 2,600 wounded.