WRAP Tanks, explosions ADDS airstrike in Beit Lahiyah; aid

(3 Jan 2009) SHOTLIST ++Various locations along the Israeli Gaza border++ 1. Various of Israeli military vehicles driving along road, near border with Gaza 2. Mid of Israeli soldiers and tank near border 3. Various of soldiers and tank 4. Zoom out of soldier standing on tank to show convoy of military vehicles at border 5. Wide of military vehicles, trees in foreground 6. Various of military planes flying overhead 7. Wide of Gaza, shot from Israeli side of the border UPSOUND: explosion, pan to thick smoke rising 8. Various of thick black smoke rising from site of another airstrike Jerusalem 9. Set up shot of Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Yigal Palmor 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Yigal Palmor, Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman: "We have a fight with Hamas not with the people of Gaza, not with the Palestinian people. Since Sunday 10-thousand tons of humanitarian goods have been shipped into Gaza and more are due to be shipped in over the next few days. There are no restrictions and the border crossings are operating fulltime just for the sake of humanitarian aid." Beit Lahiyah, Gaza Strip 11. Wide of smoke rising over buildings, zoom in of smoke 12. Zoom in of smoke rising from site of Israeli airstrike 13. Various of smoke rising over Beit Lahiyah STORYLINE Israeli warplanes and gunboats blasted more than two dozen Hamas positions on Saturday, targeting weapons storage facilities, training centres and homes of leaders, according to the Israeli military. But as the offensive on Gaza entered a second week, international cease-fire efforts appeared to be gaining momentum, even as Israeli ground troops remained massed on the border, waiting for the signal to invade. Israeli tanks could be seen driving along roads and taking positions at various locations along the Israel-Gaza border. The international push for a truce could play a big role in whether Israel invades. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is visiting the region next week, and United States President George W. Bush and United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon both spoke in favour of an internationally monitored truce. Israel has already said it is open to the idea of international monitors but it is unclear whether Hamas would agree to such supervision, which could limit its control of Gaza. Hamas has ruled the area since taking control in June 2007. Israel launched the offensive on December 27, in what they said was a response to rocket fire by militants in Gaza. The operation has killed more than 430 Palestinians, including dozens of civilians, according to Palestinian and UN counts. Four Israelis have also been killed, and rocket attacks on southern Israel persist. In the latest attacks, the Israeli army struck the homes of two Hamas operatives, saying the buildings were used to store weapons and plan attacks. The attacks also struck the American International School, the most prestigious educational institution in Gaza. The school is not connected to the US government, but teaches an American curriculum in English. The airstrike demolished the school's main building and killed a night watchman. Two other Palestinians were killed in a separate airstrike, while four others, died of wounds sustained earlier, Gaza health officials said. Early on Saturday, the Israeli army dropped leaflets in downtown Gaza City ordering people off the streets. The warnings were followed by several airstrikes. A number of airstrikes also targeted the northern city of Beit Lahiyah. Meanwhile, Palestinian militants fired at least six rockets into southern Israel, lightly wounding one person, police said. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...