New Israeli raids on Gaza kill 18

Israeli forces have carried out further attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 18 Palestinians. Medical staff said two children aged nine and 10 were among the dead, who included Palestinian militants. New Israeli raids on Gaza kill 18 There was also a clash between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli forces inside Gaza, after tanks entered three areas in the north of the territory. The raids came as Israel said it might launch a full-scale attack on Gaza in response to militant rocket attacks. Israel's leaders have been under pressure from some quarters to launch a ground invasion. However, a recent opinion poll has indicated a majority of Israelis favour a truce with the Islamist movement Hamas, which controls Gaza. Civilian deaths Gaza's citizens were kept awake for another night by the sounds of Israeli military aircraft and missile strikes. On one occasion, a house east of the Jabalia refugee camp was struck - two children, a brother and sister, were killed. Two more civilians, a father and his 19-year-old son, died in an airstrike outside their home. Israel says its aim is to stop Palestinian militants firing rockets across the border. But several more were launched in recent hours, three hitting the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon and causing light injuries to four people. On Thursday a rocket fired by Hamas killed an Israeli student in the southern town of Sderot, the first such death in nine months. Palestinian militant leaders say they are responding to Israeli attacks. Almost 40 Palestinians and one Israeli have been killed in the violence since Wednesday.

New Israeli raids on Gaza kill 18

There was also a clash between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli forces inside Gaza, after tanks entered three areas in the north of the territory.

The raids came as Israel said it might launch a full-scale attack on Gaza in response to militant rocket attacks.

Israel's leaders have been under pressure from some quarters to launch a ground invasion.

However, a recent opinion poll has indicated a majority of Israelis favour a truce with the Islamist movement Hamas, which controls Gaza.

Civilian deaths

Gaza's citizens were kept awake for another night by the sounds of Israeli military aircraft and missile strikes.

On one occasion, a house east of the Jabalia refugee camp was struck - two children, a brother and sister, were killed.

Two more civilians, a father and his 19-year-old son, died in an airstrike outside their home.

Israel says its aim is to stop Palestinian militants firing rockets across the border.

But several more were launched in recent hours, three hitting the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon and causing light injuries to four people.

On Thursday a rocket fired by Hamas killed an Israeli student in the southern town of Sderot, the first such death in nine months.

Palestinian militant leaders say they are responding to Israeli attacks.

Almost 40 Palestinians and one Israeli have been killed in the violence since Wednesday.