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The Israeli Defense Ministry vowed to intensify its bombardments of Gaza that have so far claimed the lives of more than 16 Palestinians, including children, AFP reported.
"As long as calm does not prevail on the Israeli side, neither will it do so on the Palestinian side," said Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz. "Our operations are going to intensify."
At least 16 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli air strikes and tank shelling since Friday night.
The latest victim was an eight-year-old girl who died on Monday when an Israeli shell hit her house in the Beit Lahiya region in northern Gaza. Seven of her brothers and sisters were also wounded in the Israeli attack.
A seven-year-old boy was also killed in an air strike on Friday.
The Israeli army claims that the operation is aimed at deterring rocket attacks by Palestinian resistance groups, namely Al-Aqsa Martyrs‘ Brigades and the Islamic Jihad.
But Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said the bombardments were aimed at shattering the will of the Palestinian people.
"The bombardments in the north of the Gaza Strip and in (southern) Khan Yunis ... are part of a political and economic siege of the Palestinian people," said Haniya, whose Hamas party came to power two weeks ago.
"This is an attempt to bring the Palestinian people to their knees and strangle the government which was democratically elected," he added.
Both Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and the Islamic Jihad vowed to continue their resistance.
"We will continue firing rockets in response to the crimes and Israeli aggressions, namely their assassinations and bombardments against the Palestinian people," Al-Aqsa Brigades spokesman Abu Ahmed told AFP.
A Jihad spokesman also said that his movement would "continue to respond to the Israeli aggression by any means."
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that his office contacted the Israeli government over the attacks. "We are making these contacts to stop the Israeli escalation in Gaza," he said.
The Gaza head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, John Ging, expressed "great concern" over the situation after visiting UN-run schools which he feared could end up in the firing line.
"There are very real concerns and we want this to be taken into account," he said.
A group of Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations also urged the Israeli army to end its aggression and cancel its decision to reduce the "safety zone" for artillery fire.
Physicians for Human Rights, B'Tselem, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights and the Gaza Community Mental Health Program warned that "massive artillery fire causes disproportionate harm to the civilian population."
The joint statement said such attacks constitute a "blatant violation of the Basic Rule of the laws of armed conflict, whereby civilians and civilian objects must be distinguished from military objectives."
Meanwhile, a recent poll by Israel’s state television showed that 72% respondents support stepping up the bombardment campaign. And 80% back the government’s decision to severe ties with the Hamas-led government.
"As long as calm does not prevail on the Israeli side, neither will it do so on the Palestinian side," said Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz. "Our operations are going to intensify."
At least 16 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli air strikes and tank shelling since Friday night.
The latest victim was an eight-year-old girl who died on Monday when an Israeli shell hit her house in the Beit Lahiya region in northern Gaza. Seven of her brothers and sisters were also wounded in the Israeli attack.
A seven-year-old boy was also killed in an air strike on Friday.
The Israeli army claims that the operation is aimed at deterring rocket attacks by Palestinian resistance groups, namely Al-Aqsa Martyrs‘ Brigades and the Islamic Jihad.
But Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said the bombardments were aimed at shattering the will of the Palestinian people.
"The bombardments in the north of the Gaza Strip and in (southern) Khan Yunis ... are part of a political and economic siege of the Palestinian people," said Haniya, whose Hamas party came to power two weeks ago.
"This is an attempt to bring the Palestinian people to their knees and strangle the government which was democratically elected," he added.
Both Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and the Islamic Jihad vowed to continue their resistance.
"We will continue firing rockets in response to the crimes and Israeli aggressions, namely their assassinations and bombardments against the Palestinian people," Al-Aqsa Brigades spokesman Abu Ahmed told AFP.
A Jihad spokesman also said that his movement would "continue to respond to the Israeli aggression by any means."
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that his office contacted the Israeli government over the attacks. "We are making these contacts to stop the Israeli escalation in Gaza," he said.
The Gaza head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, John Ging, expressed "great concern" over the situation after visiting UN-run schools which he feared could end up in the firing line.
"There are very real concerns and we want this to be taken into account," he said.
A group of Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations also urged the Israeli army to end its aggression and cancel its decision to reduce the "safety zone" for artillery fire.
Physicians for Human Rights, B'Tselem, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights and the Gaza Community Mental Health Program warned that "massive artillery fire causes disproportionate harm to the civilian population."
The joint statement said such attacks constitute a "blatant violation of the Basic Rule of the laws of armed conflict, whereby civilians and civilian objects must be distinguished from military objectives."
Meanwhile, a recent poll by Israel’s state television showed that 72% respondents support stepping up the bombardment campaign. And 80% back the government’s decision to severe ties with the Hamas-led government.
