Tel Aviv rules out the possibility of a truce with Hamas as Israeli forces amass along the Gaza border hinting at a potential ground attack. "There is no reason that we would accept a ceasefire at this stage," Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer told AFP on Tuesday.
Tel Aviv has so far snubbed international calls for a ceasefire with the democratically-elected government of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, vowing to continue its military campaign "as long as necessary."
The military deployed thousands of troops along the border with the costal sliver on Tuesday -- a move which is interpreted as preparation for a massive ground operation on the region.
"If there is a ceasefire that will allow Hamas to regain strength, recover from the shock and prepare an even stronger attack against Israel," said Eliezer.
Tel Aviv launched an "all-out war" against the enclave under the pretext of putting an end to the Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel. IAF warplanes and helicopters have so far pounded over 300 Hamas-linked targets as well as schools and TV stations throughout the coastal area since Saturday.
The attacks have left at least 385 people killed and another 1,800 others wounded, Palestinian medical sources told Press TV.
According to UN officials, 57 civilians, including women and children, are among the victims.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, however, downplays the high number of civilian deaths saying "a war is a war" and civilian casualty is a quite normal outcome.
Livni, who is running for prime minister in the February election, had earlier noted that Tel Aviv would resort to military action to topple Hamas, should she be elected premier.
Earlier on Monday, another senior Israeli official admitted that "the goal of the operation is to topple Hamas," an objective that had been denied by Tel Aviv.
"We will stop fire immediately if someone takes the responsibility of this government, anyone but Hamas," Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon said.
The Israeli regime imposed an economic blockade on the Gaza Strip and has regularly launched airstrikes on the region, following the Hamas takeover of the costal sliver in mid-June 2007.
The Islamic movement responded the Israeli onslaught by firing mortar shells and rockets into Israel. The rocket attacks have killed 6 Israelis and wounded 16 others.
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Topic: Israel: Too late for truce with Hamas (Read 555 times)