At least 24 Palestinians, including three children, have been killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip.
A further 69 people were wounded as Israeli troops continued their offensive in Gaza, which began after the capture of an Israeli soldier last month.
Corporal Shalit, 19, was captured in a cross-border raid from the Gaza Strip by three factions, including the armed wing of Hamas.
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, has condemned what he described as 'unacceptable acts' said Israel was 'clearly violating the Geneva convention' in attacking civilian areas.
At least 140 Palestinians have now been killed in the four-week assault that has been increasingly sidelined as the world focuses on the conflict in Lebanon, triggered by the capture of two soldiers by Hezbollah militants.
Among those killed in today's Gaza attacks were seven Palestinians which Israel said were Hamas militants.
Over 30 tanks and other armoured vehicles pushed more than 1km into northern Gaza overnight and troops clashed with militants on the edge of Jabalya, a stronghold of Hamas throughout the day.
The Israeli army has destroyed several offices of the Hamas-led Palestinian government, which accuses Israel of trying to bring down its elected administration.
The offensive has put pressure on Hamas, which was already struggling under a US-led aid embargo.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has consistently rejected demands for the release of prisoners in exchange for the captured soldier.
