Israel to intensify Gaza onslaught

• Hamas militants fire over 40 rockets at Israeli cities
• Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system intercepts 14 rockets
• 44 Palestinians killed as Israel bombs Hamas targets in Gaza

Gaza/Jerusalem: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to "further intensify attacks on Hamas" in the Gaza Strip after talks with his defence chiefs. He said the Palestinian militants would "pay a heavy price" for their rocket attacks on Israel.

At least 17 Palestinians, including several women and children, were killed on Wednesday, as the death toll rose to 44 in two days of Israeli bombardment of militant positions in Gaza while almost the whole of Israel came under rocket fire from Hamas for the first time.

Hamas-ruled Gaza witnessed its bloodiest day since November, 2012 as Israel's military said it targeted 118 concealed rocket launchers, 10 Hamas command-and-control centres and 10 tunnels, overnight injuring nearly 300.

More than 180 rockets hit various parts of Israel with the Islamist Hamas.

Rocket alert sirens sounded in Zichron Yaakov, some 120 kms north of the Gaza Strip, signalling that Hamas has now developed the capability to hit targets anywhere in Israel.

According to Israel Defence Forces (IDF) more than 225 rockets were fired at Israel since Operation Protective Edge began late on Monday with the Iron Dome interceptor system shooting down 20 while three rockets landed around Jerusalem, the BBC reported.