Israel deployed ground troops inside Gaza for the first time to raid a rocket launching site in the Palestinian territory.

Israeli air strikes targeting Hamas in Gaza have hit a mosque as the Palestinian death toll topped 120 in an offensive that shows no signs of slowing down.

Israeli air strikes shook Gaza every few minutes yesterday, and militants kept up rocket fire at Israel’s heartland in intensifying warfare that Palestinian officials said has killed at least 47 people in the Hamas-dominated enclave.

Palestinians, infuriated at a kidnap and killing they blame on far-right Jews, clashed with Israeli police in Jerusalem, while cross-border shelling in the Gaza Strip abated under Egyptian mediation.

A three-year-old girl in the Gaza Strip has been accidentally killed by a rocket launched by militants toward Israel, a Palestinian medical official said.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad has referred to Israel's attack on a military research facility a "declaration of war".

President Barack Obama has arrived in Israel and vowed "eternal" support for his top Middle East ally.

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been agreed, Egypt has announced.

US President Barack Obama has today reaffirmed US ties with Israel, upstaging Mitt Romney one day before the Republican challenger visits Jerusalem.

Gaza militants launched barrages of rockets deep into Israel early today and Israeli aircraft struck targets in the Palestinian territory in the aftermath of the deadliest attack against Israelis in three years.