Israel air strikes hit Hamas government buildings

Loud explosions rocked the densely populated Palestinian territory, sending plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.

Outgoing rocket fire from Gaza could also be heard. An Israeli police spokesman said five people were injured in a rocket attack on the city of Ashdod.

Israel's cabinet has authorised the mobilisation of up to 75,000 reservists, preparing for a possible ground invasion.

Meanwhile, Tunisia's foreign minister has arrived in Gaza in a show of solidarity, denouncing the Israeli attacks as illegitimate and unacceptable.

Officials in Gaza said 41 Palestinians, among them 20 civilians including eight children and a pregnant woman, had been killed since Israel began operations four days ago.

Three Israeli civilians were killed by a rocket on Thursday.

Israel's military said its air force had hit at least 180 targets since midnight local time, including a police headquarters, government buildings, rocket launching squads and a Hamas training facility.

A three-storey house belonging to Hamas official Abu Hassan Salah was also hit and completely destroyed. Rescuers said at least 30 people were pulled from the rubble.

"What Israel is doing is not legitimate and is not acceptable at all," Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Abdesslem said as he visited Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's wrecked headquarters.

"It does not have total immunity and is not above international law."

Hamas has fired hundreds of rockets out of Gaza, including one at Jerusalem and three at Tel Aviv - Israel's commercial centre.

Jerusalem had not been targeted in such a way since 1970, and Tel Aviv since 1991.

Although there were no reports of casualties or damage in either city, the long-range attacks came as a shock and advanced the prospect of an Israeli ground invasion into Gaza

"This will last as long as is needed; we have not limited ourselves in means or in time," Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israel's Channel One television.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a four-hour strategy session late yesterday with a clutch of senior ministers on widening the military campaign, while other cabinet members were polled by telephone on increasing mobilisation.

Political sources said they decided to more than double the current reserve troop quota set for the Gaza offensive to 75,000. It did not necessarily mean all would be called up.

Three soldiers were slightly hurt by fire from Gaza this morning, the army said.

Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Kandil paid a high-profile visit to Gaza yesterday, denouncing what he described as Israeli aggression and saying Cairo was prepared to mediate a ceasefire.

Israel's armed forces decreed a highway leading to the territory and two roads bordering the enclave of 1.7 million Palestinians off-limits to civilian traffic.

Tanks and self-propelled guns were seen near the sandy border zone, and around 16,000 reservists have already been called to active duty.

The Israeli military said some 367 rockets fired from Gaza had hit Israel since Wednesday and at least 222 more were intercepted by its Iron Dome anti-missile system.

Four Iron Domes were deployed initially and a fifth was rushed into action today, weeks ahead of schedule.

The army said it was placed in the Tel Aviv area, showing Israel's concern for the safety of its heavily populated coastline.

US President Barack Obama commended Egypt's efforts to help calm the Gaza violence in a call to Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, the White House said, and underscored his hope of restoring stability.

In a call with Mr Netanyahu, Mr Obama discussed options for "de-escalating" the situation, the White House added.

Mr Obama "reiterated US support for Israel's right to defend itself, and expressed regret over the loss of Israeli and Palestinian civilian lives," a statement on the call said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to visit Israel and Egypt next week to push for an end to the fighting in Gaza, UN diplomats said.

Arab League expected to back truce efforts for Gaza

Arab foreign ministers will consider a draft statement that calls for the Arab League chief to lead a delegation to Gaza and voices support for Egypt's efforts to negotiate a truce, an Arab diplomatic source said.

The ministerial meeting was called shortly after Israel launched an air campaign on Wednesday with the declared aim of deterring Hamas in Gaza from launching cross-border rocket salvoes that have plagued southern Israel for years.

Egypt had brokered an informal truce in October, which has since collapsed. It now says it is seeking a new deal.

The Arab diplomatic source said the draft to be discussed by the ministers expressed the Cairo-based League's support for Egypt's efforts to achieve a "long-term truce" between Israel and Palestinian factions.

As well as condemning Israel for "aggression" and calling for it to stop attacks, the draft called for League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby to lead a delegation of ministers to Gaza "immediately" to show solidarity with Palestinians.

The ministerial draft also called for the UN Security Council to take the necessary steps to halt the violence and "protect the Palestinian people."

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