DHAKA: The UN Security Council has called for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, BBC reports.

Israeli air strikes hit the territory's security HQ and police stations early on Sunday, in what Palestinian sources described as the heaviest bombing since operations began on 8 June. 

An earlier air strike is said to have killed 17 members of the same family.     

Meanwhile, Israel says it has sent ground forces intro Gaza in a raid on a rocket-launching site.     

Four soldiers were "lightly injured" in a successful raid on the site, the Israel Defence Forces said on its Twitter feed.

Israel says it was hit about 90 rockets fired from Gaza on Saturday and also reported intercepting three rockets fired at Tel Aviv from the coastal territory by Hamas Islamist militants.

A total of at least 159 Palestinians were killed and more than 1,000 injured since Israel began its operation five days ago, Palestinian sources say.

BDST: 0930 HRS, JUL 13, 2014