Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - As some reports suggest that ground troops have been involved in fighting overnight in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister said that international pressure would not stop Israel's military operations.
Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad Palestinian group, said on Saturday that its fighters had clashed with Israeli Special Forces trying to advance into Gaza.
The Brigades said there were "losses" among attacking Israeli forces sources from the Al-Quds Brigades, Al Arabiya reported. Israel has not confirmed such claims, but said that it hit some 60 Hamas military targets overnight.
Meanwhile, five more people were killed overnight bringing the total death toll to 121 since Israel began its military operations.
Since the beginning, militants have fired approximately 520 mortar rounds and rockets against Israel, while another 140 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system. So far, no Israelis have been killed.
At a political level, Mr Netanyahu said, "no international pressure will prevent us from acting with all power".
The statement comes as many parties try to stop the fighting and prevent a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. In fact, Israel's military commander Gantz said his forces were ready to act as needed. Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya'alon added, "We have many days of fighting before us."
A ground offensive would result in a large number of victims. In 2009, when the Israeli army invaded Gaza, there were more than a thousand civilian casualties. For this reason, a global effort is underway to find a solution.
UN secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon renewed his diplomatic effort. "Once again, Palestinian civilians are caught between Hamas' irresponsibility and Israel's tough response," he said, calling for "bold thinking and creative ideas" to end the violence.
The United States, Israel's main ally, offered to help broker a truce. After a phone call to Netanyahu, President Obama "expressed concern about the risk of further escalation and emphasised the need for all sides to do everything they can to protect the lives of civilians and restore calm".
For her part, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says there is "serious doubt" as to whether Israeli's military operation complies with international laws banning the targeting of civilians.
"We have received deeply disturbing reports that many of the civilian casualties, including of children, occurred as a result of strikes on homes," Ms Pillay said in a statement.
Israel has repeatedly said that it tries to avoid civilian casualties, but insists that Palestinian militants often place weapons and military equipment in residential areas.