DHAKA: Israel's aerial bombardment of Gaza has claimed its 120th Palestinian life as Hamas continued to launch rockets into central Israel and the United States offered to help broker a truce.
Diplomatic efforts failed to make any headway, with US President Barack Obama phoning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu remained resolute, saying he would not end his campaign until he achieved his goal of stopping the Hamas fire.
Benjamin Netanyahu brushed off a question about possible ceasefire efforts, signaling there was no end in sight to the operation.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern about the heavy civilian casualties in Gaza, and on Friday, the UN's top human rights official said the air campaign may violate international laws prohibiting the targeting of civilians.
Israel has massed thousands of troops along the border in preparation for a possible ground invasion. Netanyahu was evasive when asked about the odds of a ground operation, saying only: "We are weighing every possibility."
Sparking fears of an expanded conflict, at least one rocket fired from Lebanon hit open ground in northern Israel early on Friday.
Source: aljazeera.com
BDST: 1128 HRS, JUL 12, 2014