Israel's military launched more air raids on the Gaza Strip early Monday. Israel's caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised the attacks on the territory would continue.
There were explosions in Gaza City from a bombardment that was heavier, wider and lasted longer than the raids that killed at least 42 Gaza citizens and wounded dozens more Sunday.
To date at least 192 people, including 58 children and 34 women, have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the latest violence began a week ago.
Earlier, Hamas, the group that governs the Gaza Strip, fired rockets toward the Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Beersheba. Israel has reported 10 dead, including two children, according to a report from Al-Jazeera.
The United Nations Security Council met Sunday to discuss the situation but failed to agree on even a joint statement of concern.
Israel bombed Gaza and Hamas militants in the enclave fired missile barrages at cities in Israel as fighting entered its second week Monday, Reuters reported.
In a tweet Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said Hamas' militant wing had launched 120 rockets between 7 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. local time Sunday. Eleven of the rockets failed to hit its target and fell in Gaza, IDF said.
Benny Gantz, Israel's Defense minister, said in a tweet that Israel has "no interest in escalation, but is ready for any scenario," echoing an Israeli military official, who said Israel is prepared to continue striking "quality targets" for an extended period of time, CNN reported.
The Israel Defense Forces said after missiles targeted the Israeli cities of Beersheba and Ashkelon, its warplanes retaliated by hitting nine residences belonging to high-ranking Hamas leaders. Some of the homes were used to store weapons, the Israel Defense Forces said.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 1,225 have been injured, with the number expected to increase since the start of the airstrikes on Gaza this week, as paramedics continue their search operations.
Netanyahu said the military campaign in Gaza was continuing at "full force" and that deterrence had to be attained to prevent future conflict with Hamas.
Meanwhile, China has suggested a "two-state solution" and called on the United States to carry out its responsibilities in putting an end to the escalating Israel-Palestinian territories tension at the U.N. Security Council meeting Sunday.
"We call upon the U.S. to shoulder its responsibilities and adjust its position," China's foreign minister Wang Yi said. The China official called for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian territories and stop the violence.
