30 Israeli soldiers have been wounded after Israel rolled thousands of troops into the Palestinian territory, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson reported, cited by CNN.

Two of the soldiers reportedly have serious injuries. A number of Hamas fighters have also been wounded, the IDF said, but he did not specify how many.

At least four Palestinians have been killed as a direct result of the ground assault, Palestinian medical sources said. The latest casualties bring the death toll in Gaza to 460 since the conflict erupted December 27.

Israel stepped up its operation with the use of ground forces in order to put an end rocket attacks by Hamas militants.

The ground attack began just hours after the European Union announced that a delegation is heading to the Middle East to meet with regional leaders and negotiate a cease-fire.

The UN Secretary General has also called for an immediate cease-fire, but an emergency Security Council meeting failed to agree on a united approach to the Gaza conflict. Diplomatic sources allege it was the United States that blocked an agreement.

In the mean time, witnesses and journalist in Gaza report hearing blasts of heavy machine-gun fire and explosions from airstrikes early Sunday morning, hours after Israel advanced its ground forces into Palestinian territory.

Clashes were reported in Gaza City, the northern town of Beit Lahiya and the Jabaliya refugee camp.

Hamas radio and TV report the capture of two Israeli soldiers during the fighting, but the Israeli army says it has no knowledge of the claim.

In his first public comments since the ground offensive, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the operation was "unavoidable", but that he would not allow a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israeli officials have described the offensive as a "limited" operation.

Just before the ground offensive began, Hamas issued a statement promising that Palestinian children would be picking over the ruins of Israeli tanks and the body parts of Israeli soldiers.
A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the offensive as "a vicious aggression".

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