Top Hamas commander killed in Israeli strike; ADDS Israeli forces

SHOTLIST ++Night Shots++ 1. Various Israeli Soldiers along Israeli-Gaza border 2. Bulldozers driving off towards Gaza 3. Tanks driving along road 4. Pull out showing vehicle headlights and lights in the distance ++Day Shots ++ 5. Wide shot of people and damage around Hamas commander Ayman Hassanin's home where a fire-fight with Israeli forces took place 6. Tank tracks in ground 7. Wide of damaged building with people standing outside 8. Shattered window 9. Militants in street among people 10. Pan of people around damaged building 11. Wide shot of member of Ayman Hassanin's family 12. Close-up of family member crying 13. Hooded militant walking past 14. Various of tyres burning in street STORYLINE The Israeli army launched a broad offensive into Gaza City early Tuesday, targeting and killing a top Hamas commander and an elderly woman in Gaza's largest neighbourhood, the Islamic group and the military said. Israeli troops spread out in the area, storming the home of Ayman Hassanin, a local leader in the ruling Hamas group, witnesses said. Gunmen flocked to the area as troops called on loudspeakers for Hassanin and his brother, Ibrahim, to surrender, said the militants' mother. A fierce gunbattle erupted between the gunmen and the forces, who were backed by dozens of tanks and armoured vehicles. Ayman Hassanin, 26, was killed in the fighting, Hamas said in a statement. Hassanin's brother, Ibrahim, was arrested, his mother said. A 70-year-old woman was also killed in the battle, Palestinian medical officials said. The military operation is the latest purported Israeli attempt to halt Palestinian rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. In the hours before the offensive, Gaza militants fired at least 25 homemade rockets into Israel, the groups said in statements. Last week, a woman was killed in a rocket strike. The Israeli army has increased its military pressure on Gaza in recent weeks, launching a broad, deadly operation in the northern town of Beit Hanoun earlier this month, which culminated in the killing of 18 civilians by Israeli artillery fire. The Israeli air force says it has been targeting militants and areas in which arms are believed to be stored. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/0e9113998de0b6c8245ee3f1d1422ea2 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork