Egyptian PM Hisham Qandil is to travel to Gaza on Friday as a demonstration of concern and support.

Palestinian militants fired rockets from Gaza 70km (45 miles) north in the direction of Tel Aviv.

As a result, tension and physical conflict has been on a deadly increase since Israel killed Ahmed Jabari, the military leader of the Islamist group that controls the territory, on Wednesday.

Approximately 18 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. Among the deceased are innocent children.

Defence Minister Ehud Barak declared that he had authorized the army to draft reserve forces for potential activity in Gaza. Around as many as 30 000 troops can be sent out.

"Let me tell you that all options are on the table," Maj. Arye Shalicar told the CBC's Derek Stoffel on Thursday. "If we need to send in ground forces or more strikes on terror activity sites or other surgical attacks on sites, we will do so until we bring quiet back to our southern region."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters on Thursday that Israel has "made it clear" it won't tolerate continued rocket fire on its civilians.

"No government would tolerate a situation where nearly a fifth of its people live under a constant barrage of rockets and missile fire, and Israel will not tolerate this situation," he said.

Unfortunately, the sentiment of vengeance lingers in the thick political aire as Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said aiming at Tel Aviv would "exact a price that the other side will have to pay".

Up until late Thursday, it was reported by BBC correspondents that several intense explosions and missile fire around Gaza City ensued..

The Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, condemned what he has labelled as Israel's "ferocious assault" targeted at the area.

"We here in Gaza will remain steadfast and unshaken," he said in a televised statement. "We are all confident in our intrepid resistance fighters who are now deployed on the front."

Egypt's new Islamist President Mohammed Mursi stated that the Israeli bombardment "unacceptable aggression". The attacks will deal a huge blow to security in the territory.

BBC reports taht Cairo is pro-actively trying to engage in mediation between Israel and Hamas to cease the fighting.

The United States, Israel's key ally, has called upon Egypt, Turkey and European powers who have communications with Hamas to persuade them to cease the rocket attacks from Gaza..

Arab League foreign ministers have on the agenda to address the violence later on Friday.

The West is likewise being called upon to engage in negotiations. Mackay declared that Canada would attempt to cultivate “meaningful discussions” to de-escalate the conflict. Rick Roth, a spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, said in a statement. "Far too often, the Jewish people find themselves on the front lines in the struggle against terrorism."