The death toll in Gaza has passed 120 as Israel continues its air strikes on the Palestinian enclave. Air strikes this morning killed 16 people, to bring the total killed over five days of attacks – as part of Israel’s Operation Protective Edge - to 121. Approximately 700 Palestinians have also been wounded in the air strikes. There have been no Israeli fatalities.

The UN says three quarters of the casualties are civilians. The violence of recent days is now the worst seen between Israel and Palestine since November 2012.

Israel is refusing to bow to international pressure to end the offensive by negotiating a ceasefire with Hamas.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army says rockets fired by Palestinian militants have hit Beersheba in Israel. So far five Israelis, including three soldiers, have been wounded by Hamas rocket fire.

The possibility of a ground offensive in Gaza from Israeli forces remains as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to rule out such actions, saying:

“We are weighing all possibilities and preparing for all possibilities."

“No international pressure will prevent us from acting with all power.”

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: “Our backs are to the wall and we have nothing to lose. We are ready to battle until the end.”

Hamas yesterday warned international airlines not to fly into Israel’s Ben Gurion international Airport, in Tel-Aviv, as they will target it with missile strikes.