DHAKA: Israel has warned it could "significantly widen" a Gaza land offensive but was cautioned by its main ally, the United States, about the risks of further escalation as Palestinian civilian deaths mounted.

Palestinian officials said 65 Palestinians, at least 15 of them under the age of 18, had been killed since Israel sent ground forces on Thursday into the densely-populated enclave of 1.8 million Palestinians.

The Israeli army said it killed 17 Palestinian gunmen and took 13 prisoners in operations inside the Gaza Strip. One Israeli soldier was killed and several others injured.

In all, 307 Palestinians have been killed since fighting began on July 8, Gaza officials said. Most of the dead were civilians, of whom more than 50 were under the age of 18. About 2,260 other people have been injured.

Israel said 150 targets, including 21 rocket launchers and four tunnels, had been attacked overnight.

The US president, Barack Obama, said on Friday he had spoken to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, about "the risks of further escalation" and the loss of innocent lives

However, he emphasised Washington's support for Israel to defend itself.

"We are hopeful that Israel will continue to approach this process in a way that minimises civilian casualties," Obama said.

At an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Friday, UN political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman condemned rocket fire into Israel but voiced alarm at "Israel's heavy response".

Source: Al-Jazeera

BDST: 1014 HRS, JUL 19, 2014