Israel has stepped up its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip as reports of the brutality and severity of Hamas attacks against Israeli civilians emerged. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military was targeting the infrastructure of Hamas in the strip, including rocket launchers, tunnels, weapons warehouses and command centers. He also warned that the offensive would continue until the “terror threat” posed by Hamas was eliminated. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it had targeted a senior Hamas military leader, who, it said, was involved in planning and directing the group’s attacks. The military said it had hit more than 700 targets in Gaza so far and had killed at least 150 militants. Palestinian officials put the death toll in the strip at 234, including 65 children. In Israel, four civilians and a soldier have been killed by rocket fire from Gaza.
