Six Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya.
The deaths bring to 28 the number of Palestinians killed since Israel launched its large-scale incursion into Gaza this week.
Two of those killed died in an Israeli air strike, in a raid the military claimed was an attack on 'two armed cells' in the al-Atatra area of Beit Lahiya.
The town has been the scene of the heaviest clashes over the last two days.
Faced with the mounting death toll and the worst Middle East crisis in months, the UN Security Council is debating a draft resolution demanding Israel withdraw from Gaza immediately and release detained Palestinian officials.
Despite this, Israeli forces have continued an offensive aimed at securing the release of a soldier captured by Palestinian militants 12 days ago.
Corporal Gilad Shalit, 19, was captured by three Palestinian groups, including Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.
Yesterday, in the biggest escalation of the crisis since the soldier was captured, Israeli troops moved deeper into the northern Gaza Strip, effectively creating a buffer zone in a territory it withdrew from in September last year.
Israel has vowed to use everything in its power to increase the pressure on the embattled Hamas-led government.
Rocket attacks continue
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the offensive had unleashed 'new crimes against humanity'.
Mr Abbas, whose repeated calls for militants to stop launching rockets have gone unheeded, urged the international community and the UNSC to put pressure on Israel to end 'this destructive policy immediately'.
Palestinian rocket attacks have continued, three rockets today brought to 12 the number of projectiles launched since the Israeli army's incursion began.
The Hamas-led government, boycotted both financially and politically by Israel and the West, has put its security forces on high alert and urged all Palestinians to take up arms.
Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, whose offices were bombed by Israel on Sunday, has demanded international intervention.
Aid groups have expressed concern over the welfare of the 1.4 million people living in the impoverished region following months of financial crisis and the suspension of direct aid.
