Israeli warplanes have killed at least 16 Palestinians, Palestinian officals say. The strikes are pounding the Gaza Strip in a new campaign to stamp out Hamas rocket fire as the two sides slide toward major conflict.
In the most serious flare-up over Gaza since November 2012, Israel was on Tuesday struggling to contain a wave of violence in Arab towns over the grisly murder of a Palestinian teenager by Jewish extremists.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas demanded Israel "immediately stop" its air campaign, dubbed Operation Protective Edge, and asked the world to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
But Netanyahu was expected to order a "significant broadening" of the operation and instruct the army to "take off the gloves," army radio said, quoting a source close to the premier.
Israel calls up 40,000 reservists
After nearly four weeks of intensifying rocket fire on the south, Israel appeared bent on dealing the Islamist Hamas movement a heavy blow, with the cabinet reportedly authorising the call up of some 40,000 reservists.
In central Gaza, one man was killed near Nusseirat refugee camp. Witnesses said he was a member of Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.
Shortly after, another four people were killed when a missile slammed into a car in Gaza City.
Relatives said the victims were all Hamas militants. One was identified as Mohammed Shaaban, 32, who ran the Brigades' naval unit.
Seven others were killed and at least 25 wounded when a missile struck a house in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, medics said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri warned Israel was "playing with fire" and would pay.
Israeli army launch Operation Protective Edge
The Israeli army was preparing all options to stamp out rocket fire from Gaza, including a ground assault, a senior official said.
"The army is preparing for all possible scenarios, including an invasion or a ground operation," he said.
Military spokesman General Moti Almoz told the radio "we have been instructed by the political echelon to hit Hamas hard", saying the operation would take place "in stages".
He also confirmed Israel was preparing for a possible ground offensive.
"All options are on the table; all these steps are being considered. Two brigades, which are currently stationed around the Gaza Strip, are prepared and ready, and in the coming days, more will arrive."
Around Gaza, dozens of tanks and soldiers could be seen massing along the border.
Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon warned it was likely to be a protracted campaign.
"We are preparing for a campaign against Hamas, which will not end in just a few days," he said, with the aim being "to exact a very heavy price from Hamas".
Since June 12, when the current round of tit-for-tat violence began, more than 250 rockets have hit southern Israel, with another 40 intercepted by the Iron Dome air defence system.
So far no Israelis have been killed.
Since midnight, militants had fired more than 100 rockets, an army spokeswoman said, with about a third hitting Israeli territory.
The rocket fire has drawn a strong reaction from Washington and Brussels.
The latest flare-up comes as Israel arrested six Jewish extremists in connection with the grisly kidnap and murder of the Palestinian teenager, burned alive in a suspected revenge attack the killing of three Israeli youths in the occupied West Bank.
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