Israel threatens Gaza escalation despite truce calls

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli tanks advanced on Gaza and Hamas militants fired rockets at Israel on Saturday, both sides ignoring international calls to stop the conflict, and Israel warned it would intensify its assault.

Israeli forces killed at least 19 people, including eight members of one family in the northern Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said, bringing the Palestinian death toll from 15 days of fighting to 830.

Thirteen Israelis have been killed since the offensive began on Dec. 27, three civilians hit by rocket fire and 10 soldiers.

In Egypt, efforts by President Hosni Mubarak to broker a ceasefire showed little sign of progress and Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets on southern Gaza telling residents it was about to step up its air and ground offensive.

Israel said an air strike near the Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip killed Amir Mansi, a senior Hamas commander. Palestinian medical workers said one adult and two children were killed but Mansi's condition was unclear.

Israel denied firing the shell that killed eight members of the Abu Rayya family in Jabalya earlier in the day.

The fighting continued even during a three-hour ceasefire window Israel has observed in recent days to allow humanitarian aid to help sustain the territory's 1.5 million residents.

As Israeli tanks advanced in northern Gaza and aircraft hit targets across the coastal strip, Hamas rockets hit Ashkelon, 20 km north of Gaza, wounding three Israelis.