Netanyahu stands firm on Gaza

In a televised speech on Saturday, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israel would continue its military campaign in the Gaza Strip for as long as needed.

"From the beginning, we promised to return the quiet to Israel's citizens and we will continue to act until that aim is achieved. We will take as much time as necessary, and will exert as much force as needed," he said.

He said after the military completed its operation of destroying all Hamas tunnels, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) "will act and continue to act in accordance with our security needs and only according to our defense needs."

Netanyahu also said Israel would do whatever necessary to bring home the 23-year-old soldier Hadar Goldin, who Israel believes was captured by militants during an ambush in Gaza on Friday.

"Israel will continue to make every effort to bring its missing sons home," he said.

With all options "on the table," Netanyahu said Hamas must understand that it will "pay an intolerable price, from its perspective, for continuation of the shooting."

His remarks quashed any speculation that Israel had planned to pull back troops from Gaza. Earlier in the day, the military informed residents of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza that it was "safe" to return to their homes.

Israel snubs Cairo talks

Meanwhile, Israel said it would not take part in truce talks in Cairo. Speaking to Israel's Channel 10 television station Saturday, Cabinet minister Yuval Steinitz said the country would not send a delegation to proposed truce talks.

He alleged that Hamas had repeatedly violated previous ceasefires and that this "leads us to the conclusion that with this organization there is no point speaking" about any deal.

Fighting has so far has killed at least 1,665 Palestinians and 63 Israeli soldiers. According to UN figures, up to 25 percent of Gaza's population of 1.8 million have fled their homes, with a quarter of a million of them taking refuge in shelters run by the UN.

hc/mkg (Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa)