Israel struck targets in the Gaza Strip with stepped-up bombardment and artillery fire overnight into Saturday, knocking out communications and creating a near-blackout of information by largely cutting off the besieged enclave's 2.3 million people from contact with the outside world.
The Israeli military said it was expanding ground operations in the territory, signaling it was moving closer to an all-out invasion of Gaza, where it has vowed to crush the ruling Hamas militant group after its bloody incursion in southern Israel three weeks ago.
