Israel rebuffs U.N. resolution, pursues Gaza war

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel rejected a U.N. resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Friday and warplanes and tanks pounded the Palestinian enclave.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert dismissed Thursday's binding Security Council resolution demanding an "immediate and durable" ceasefire in the two-week-old war as "unworkable."

Israel said Hamas fighters had fired at least 30 rockets into its territory on Friday. No casualties were reported.

Medics in Gaza said the Palestinian death toll had risen to 784. Ten Israeli soldiers have been killed, as well as three civilians hit by Hamas cross-border rocket fire.

Hamas officials in Gaza say they are weighing the U.N. resolution, but have voiced irritation they were not consulted.

The group said it had sent three of its leaders from Gaza to Cairo to discuss a separate Egyptian ceasefire proposal, but diplomats said Israel and Egypt were far apart on the plan.

"The firing of rockets this morning only goes to show that the U.N. decision is unworkable and will not be adhered to by the murderous Palestinian organizations," Olmert declared.

Israel's security cabinet debated for the second time in three days whether to send in reservists for a push into the Gaza Strip's towns and cities. There was no word on the outcome.

Mark Regev, Olmert's spokesman, declined to say whether the ministers had decided to expand the ground operation.

"I can't go into operational details. The military pressure on Hamas will continue," Regev said.

WHITE HOUSE BLAMES HAMAS

The United States, which abstained in the U.N. vote, offered further public support for Israel's military goals.

"This situation will not improve until Hamas stops lobbing rockets into Israel," White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.

He also said President George W. Bush had voiced his concern to Olmert about the humanitarian situation and the loss of civilian lives during the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip.

Israel's air force said it hit more than 50 targets overnight. As fighting on the ground went on through the day, Palestinian medics counted at least 19 dead, including civilians.