Blitz before the storm

Howitzers rage as soldiers gather. Gaza blockaded until hostages free

- CHRIS HUGHES

ISRAELI troops bracing to launch a bloody ground attack on Hamas I have stepped up devastating artillery strikes on Gaza.

Every 30 seconds, 155mm Howitzers are being blasted into the Palestine enclave as thousands of soldiers muster.

Hamas terrorists are still being hunted five days after the PROM horrific bloodbath in which more than 1,000 Israelis were killed, including women and children.

It is now feared that Palestinian civilians are losing their lives in Gaza, both from the blasts and a total blockade on food, water and energy.

Israel's energy minister, Israel Katz, insisted: "Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter, until the Israeli hostages are returned home." On Thursday we saw heavily armed troops combing hedge rows and culverts for Hamas gunmen outside Gaza.

From as close to the front as it is possible to get, we watched the Israeli Defence Forces pummel Hamas targets with self-propelled Howitzers.