Hamas are firing on innocent civilians and have left Israel no choice, said the defense minister, adding that "We will operate with force to change the situation, and we will change it."

Meanwhile, IDF officials expressed satisfaction with the progress of the military operation in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli air strike in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has formally suspended all contacts with Israel in protest at the blitz on the Gaza Strip that has killed nearly 70 people.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Israeli army will continue its operations in the current format – activity deep within Palestinian territory that includes "clearing" Qassam launch sites, searching structures and detaining wanted Palestinian militants, according to the website of local daily Yedioth Ahronoth.

On Sunday, 10 Palestinians were killed and four IDF troops lightly wounded when intense fighting between the IDF and Gaza militants erupted amid ongoing rocket fire.

Meanwhile, Palestinian militants in Gaza fired 21 rockets at southern Israel, leaving one person lightly wounded.

On early Sunday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert vowed that Israel will not stop the military operations against the Palestinian militants in Gaza.