Defence minister approves next part of Gaza invasion

Defence minister Amir Peretz today approved the next part of the Israeli army’s invasion into the Gaza Strip, military officials said.

Israel launched its Gaza offensive on Tuesday.

Peretz, speaking at a meeting with the army’s top brass, gave the military the green light to continue the invasion, meant to gain the release of an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas militants.

The military officials did not elaborate on the next phase of the operation.