The foreign minister told Channel 2 that the government needs to spell out ''a strategic goal'' that encompasses ''defeating Hamas, bringing it to submission.''

18 Palestinians were killed by Hamas forces in Gaza; Witnesses say several Gazans executed by Hamas in public square.

As Hamas rocket fire into Israel continued Thursday the European Union and the US pushed for a United Nations Security Council resolution to end the fighting. Israel responded with air strikes on several terror targets.

Gaza rocket slams into Ashdod synagogue, injuring three; Gaza mortar explodes near preschool in Eshkol, 1 wounded in Beersheba.

PA president, Hamas leader and Qatari ruler discuss ways to end conflict in Gaza, sources in Ramallah say.

Defense minister and prime minister praise killing of senior Hamas commanders as ''great operational and intelligence achievement.''

After overnight air strikes, cabinet approves measure to call up reserve soldiers to replace currently serving reservists as rocket fire continues to batter southern Israel.

Netanyahu's approval rating continues to drop since ground troops entered Gaza, according to survey.

In the wake of renewed Hamas rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Tuesday, which prompted the collapse of ceasefire negotiations, a range of Israeli leaders from across the political spectrum resigned themselves to the need to deploy greater force.

Source says that the three were among seven suspected ''collaborators'' who were arrested while they were searching for targets in the Gaza Strip for Israel to attack.