Israeli forces step up bombardment across Gaza amid fierce fighting

CAIRO - Israeli forces pounded Rafah and other areas across the GazaStrip and engaged in close-quarter combat with fighters led by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, residents and Israel's military said.

Residents said the Israelis appeared to by trying to complete their capture of Rafah, the city on the enclave's southern edge that has been the focus of an Israeli assault since early May.

Tanks were forcing