Israeli strikes continue amid mounting pressure for ceasefire

JERUSALEM, July 12  -- Israel has no intention to halt the air strikes on Gaza in the coming days, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon told Army Radio on Saturday, as international pressure to negotiate a ceasefire deal in the conflict are gathering pace.

"Many days of war are still ahead of us," Ya'alon said, adding that Israel will continue to pound Hamas targets "with full power. " Ya'alon added that there were still "many targets" in the Gaza Strip.

Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting have gathered pace on the fifth day of Israel's air campaign on Gaza. Arab media reported on Saturday on a new Palestinian truce initiative, involving Egypt and Qatar.

According to some reports, the deal includes money transfers to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and opening of crossing points to Gaza.

On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama phoned Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and offered to facilitate cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

However, Netanyahu said in a press conference later that he would not end the operation until Hamas halts the rocket fire on Israel. Since Operation Protective Edge began on Tuesday, Gaza militants fired about 690 rockets and mortars towards Israel.

"No international pressure will prevent us from striking with all force against the terrorist organization which calls for our destruction," he said.

Over the past 24 hours, Israel struck about 158 sites in the Gaza Strip, an army statement said. The latest air raids brought the death toll in Gaza to at least 128, according to the Gaza- based Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights. Some 635 houses were destroyed or damaged, Al-Mezan said in a statement.