The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday continued to send reserve soldiers into the Gaza Strip, in a move widely seen as a signal for a possible escalation of the ongoing offensive.

The extra forces, which began flowing into the Gaza battlefield on Sunday night, would take over areas cleared out by regular troops, and thus allow the latter a wider range of movement and a greater opportunity to exert pressure on Hamas forces, Israeli military officials were quoted by local news Ynet website. The move does not necessarily mean an advanced stage of the 17-day-old Operation Cast Lead, said the officials. The IDF will reach a more advanced stage of operations as needed, said the report.

Israeli reservists rest before crossing into the northern Gaza Strip January 12, 2009. An Israeli military spokesman said army reservists had been thrown into the campaign that Israel launched with the declared aim of ending cross-border rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled territory to its south. Israeli troops fought gun battles with Hamas fighters on Monday, keeping military pressure on the Islamist group while avoiding all-out urban warfare that would complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war.[Xinhua/Reuters]

Yet as the Jewish state has repeatedly said that it would upgrade the Gaza offensive if necessary, the buildup gave rise to widespread speculation that the IDF was about to advance the operation to its third stage, following the massive airstrikes in the first week and the ground incursion in the following days.

In preparation for the possible escalation, tens of thousands of reservists have been called up. Should the scenario occur, they would enter Gaza to help tighten the rope around Hamas' neck.

Fierce fighting between the two sides continued on Monday, along with Israeli bombardment of Hamas targets in Gaza and Palestinian rocket fire at Israel. Over 900 people have so far been killed and over 4,100 others injured in the Palestinian enclave, and 13 have been killed and dozens injured on the Israeli side.

Israeli reservists hold their weapons before crossing the border into the northern Gaza Strip January 12, 2009. An Israeli military spokesman said army reservists had been thrown into the campaign that Israel launched with the declared aim of ending cross-border rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled territory to its south. Israeli troops fought gun battles with Hamas fighters on Monday, keeping military pressure on the Islamist group while avoiding all-out urban warfare that would complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war.[Xinhua/Reuters]

Reflecting the Israeli assessment that Hamas has sustained heavy losses, the daily number of rocket attacks from the coastal strip has decreased by more than a half.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the IDF was nearing the goals set for the operation, while "further patience, determination and effort" were required "so that our citizens can feel safety and stability."

As international pressure is mounting up for an early ceasefire, a high-ranking Israeli defense official is expected to pay his second visit to Cairo in the coming days, following a trip last week, for talks over a possible Gaza ceasefire.

Olmert reiterated earlier Monday that his nation must ensure an end to both anti-Israel rocket fire from and weaponry smuggling into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip before accepting any ceasefire.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2009)