Israel air strikes: Gaza toll tops 100 as truce efforts waver

Jerusalem: Israel's aerial bombardment of Gaza claimed its 112th Palestinian life early Saturday as Hamas pounded central Israel with rockets and Washington offered to help broker a truce.

Diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities gathered pace, with US President Barack Obama phoning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The United States remains prepared to facilitate a cessation of hostilities," the White House said. But Netanyahu said he would not end his campaign until he achieved his goal of stopping the Hamas fire.

"No international pressure will prevent us from striking, with all force, against the terrorist organisation which calls for our destruction," he told a Friday evening news conference in Tel Aviv. "No terrorist target in Gaza is immune."

Sparking fears of an expanded conflict, at least one rocket fired from Lebanon hit open ground in northern Israel early Friday. Despite international concerns, truce efforts have been unsuccessful, according to Cairo, which has been key in mediating previous Hamas-Israel ceasefires.

"Egypt has communicated with all sides to halt violence against civilians and called on them to continue with the truce agreement signed in November 2012," the foreign ministry said. "Unfortunately, these efforts... have met with stubbornness." After weeks of rocket fire on the south of the country, Israel appeared bent on dealing a fatal blow to the Islamist Hamas.

Ismail Haniya, Gaza's former premier and the most senior Hamas official in the coastal enclave, also ruled out any end to hostilities.

"(Israel) is the one that started this aggression and it must stop, because we are (simply) defending ourselves," he said.