Gaza City (CNN) -- Israel's ground incursion into Gaza, which it says is intended to destroy Palestinian militants' tunnels and stop rocket fire into Gaza, has entered its fifth day with the death toll mounting on both sides and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arriving in Egypt. CNN's Ben Wedeman, a veteran Middle East correspondent, puts the incursion into perspective. How does this incursion compare to previous ones by Israel into Gaza, in terms of military force? Unlike 2008/09, this incursion seems to be focused on areas with high concentrations of people, initially focusing on the Gaza City neighborhood of Shaja'ia. In '08/09 the focus was on areas where rockets were being fired, which were typically away from highly populated communities.
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CNN's Ben Wedeman says Hamas is a stronger force this time
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It has adopted commando-like tactics, he says
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There was cheering at reports of an Israeli solider captured
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U.S. has little to show for a year of trying to forge peace, he says
My impression is that @placeholder has mobilized a much larger military force than in 2008/09 and in 2012.
What is significant now is that Hamas fighters appear to be better trained, with a new set of skills that I don't think @placeholder anticipated.
After one of his deputies mentioned the latest number of @placeholder casualties, Kerry was heard to say, "It's a hell of a pinpoint operation."