Israel continues to pound Gaza after PM says 'determined' to press ahead

JERUSALEM - Israel continued to hit Gaza with airstrikes into Thursday, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuffed US President Joe Biden's call for de-escalation.

The overnight wave of airstrikes killed at least one Palestinian and injured several others, according to Palestinian health officials in the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement that warplanes and aircraft struck homes of at least five Hamas officials in order to destroy weapon storages and military infrastructures located inside them.

The strikes included targets in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip and Gaza city.

The air force has also continued to strike an underground tunnel system known as the "Metro" across the Gaza Strip, the spokesperson said.

In the morning, rocket fire from the besieged Palestinian enclave renewed, with fresh barrages fired at southern Israel, including Ashkelon city and communities in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip.

According to figures issued by the Israeli military on Thursday morning, about 4,070 rockets have been fired from Gaza at Israel, of which about 610 were failed launches that fell within the Gaza Strip. Israel's Iron Dome Air Defense System intercepted about 90 percent of the rockets.

Netanyahu said the operation will continue "until its aim is met." He said Israel is "determined" to continue striking targets belonging to Hamas in order to restore calm.

Since the beginning of its military campaign on May 10, Israel pounded Gaza with airstrikes and artillery that destroyed residential buildings, roads and other infrastructures. At least 227 Palestinians have been killed, including 64 children and 38 women, according to Palestinian health officials in the Gaza Strip.

In Israel, 12 people have been killed, including a five-year-old boy and a soldier.