An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Sunday denied reports that an Israeli soldier was killed in the ongoing Gaza ground incursion.

"It is not true," said the spokesman, without elaborating.

Earlier Sunday, the IDF said in a statement that thirty Israeli soldiers were wounded during the ground incursion in the Hamas- controlled Gaza Strip.

The IDF operation continued overnight Saturday with large infantry, tank, engineering, artillery and intelligence forces operating throughout the Gaza Strip with the assistance of the Israel Air Force and the Israel Navy, said the statement.

During exchanges of fire with Palestinian militants in Gaza, an IDF officer and a soldier were severely wounded, it said, adding 28 other IDF soldiers were injured moderately and lightly.

The IDF will continue to operate against the Hamas "terror infrastructure" in the Gaza Strip according to plans in order to reduce the rocket fire on southern Israel, said the statement.

As the IDF's Cast Lead operation, which started on Dec. 27, entered its eighth day, the IDF Saturday evening began its ground incursion into Gaza.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2009)