Israel’s army received approval today to broaden its ground operations against Gaza Strip militants who have been barraging Israeli border towns with deadly rocket fire, but no large-scale incursion is in the works, military officials said.

Hamas militants defied Israeli air strikes and threats to kill their top leaders, firing more rockets into Israel, as the Palestinian president arrived in Gaza in an effort to defuse the escalating conflict.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced today that he would call new presidential and parliament elections at the earliest possible date, in a bold challenge to ruling Hamas militants that risked sparking a full-scale civil war.

Hamas and Fatah gunmen exchanged fire on the streets of Gaza City and the West Bank city of Ramallah today, a day after unidentified gunmen shot at Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh’s entourage.

Hamas militants today burst into the Rafah border terminal, sparking a gunbattle with guards before taking control of the crossing.