Palestinian sources early Saturday said two men were killed and ten were wounded by IDF fire at the Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. According to the report, IDF troops and Palestinian gunmen exchanged fire in the area. Earlier, a 13-month-old Gaza girl was killed by flying shrapnel. Hamas said Malak Karfaneh and three other civilians were killed in an Israeli strike on Beit Hanoun. But local residents said one of those rockets fell short and landed in the area of the baby's house.
The IDF, which sent troops, tanks and aircraft after Gaza rocket squads on Friday, said it only attacks rocket-launching operations, but noted that terrorists sometimes operate within civilian areas.
Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai told Army Radio that Israel had "no other choice" but to launch a massive military operation in Gaza. "We will use all our strength in every way we deem appropriate, whether in air strikes or on the ground," Vilnai said.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, dismissed Vilnai's comments, saying: "We are not afraid of these threats."
The IDF has notified the government it is ready to launch a major ground offensive as soon as it is ordered to do so, defense officials said. Nothing is expected for the next week or two, in part because the military prefers to wait for clearer weather, they added.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on Israel to stop all attacks in Gaza and urged Palestinians to halt the rocket fire. "It is in the interest of the Palestinian people not to give Israel any pretext to continue its aggressions," a statement from his office said.
US State Department spokesman Tom Casey denounced Hamas' rocket attacks as "completely unacceptable" and demanded they stop. He also said the US regularly urges Israel to consider the consequences of its actions and to pay careful attention to the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people.
Earlier, A relatively quiet Friday morning in Sderot was shattered at midday when a Kassam rocket fired from Gaza hit a house as a family was eating lunch. Four people were reported suffering from shock after the rocket slammed into a room adjacent to where the family was dining.
A total of 16 rockets have been fired at southern Israel since Friday morning. Most landed in open areas, causing no wounded or damage. Hamas's armed wing, Izzadin Kassam, claimed responsibility for firing five rockets at Israel, one of which misfired, injuring five Gazans.
In addition, Palestinian medical officials said that nine Palestinians were wounded in four separate IAF strikes in northern Gaza, adding that among the wounded were two young boys, aged five and six. The army said that it targeted rocket launching sites in Beit Lahiya and Jabalya.
Overnight Thursday, IDF Givat Brigade troops, backed up by tanks, struck at two terror cells during routine counter-terror operations in northern Gaza. The IDF reported hits on both of the cells.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman has postponed his upcoming trip to Israel, planned for the middle of next week. Suleiman informed Defense Minister Ehud Barak of his decision on Friday morning. Jerusalem officials estimated that the reason for the postponement was the escalation in the Gaza Strip and also cited Suleiman's concerns that the IDF is about to embark on a large-scale operation in the territory. Cairo is trying to arrange anther date for the trip, Israel Radio reported.
Barak explained the state of affairs to Britain, Russia and the US and told their respective foreign ministers that if the Gaza situation deteriorates further, Hamas will be responsible for the consequences.