Israeli airstrikes on Gaza kill over 100 as militant rockets continue to fall on Israel

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister is brushing off questions about a cease-fire in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will end its offensive when its goals are realized. He says “the overriding goal is to restore the peace and quiet.” Israel says the offensive comes in response to weeks of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

Militant rockets struck Israel Friday from both Gaza and Lebanon. One rocket set a gas station in southern Israel ablaze Friday, wounding three people. But so far, there have been no deaths on the Israeli side, in large part because of a new rocket-defense system that has intercepted more than 125 incoming projectiles.

Meanwhile, the official Palestinian count of the dead in Gaza has passed 100, including dozens of civilians.

The U.N. high commissioner for human rights says the aerial assault may violate international laws prohibiting the targeting of civilians.

But Netanyahu maintains the Israeli airstrikes are aimed at military targets. He blames Hamas for causing civilian casualties by hiding in residential areas.

%@AP Links

250-r-15-(Sound of tear gas cannisters, fired from Israeli military jeep)–Sound of tear gas cannisters fired from Israeli military jeep. (11 Jul 2014)

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252-r-04-(Sound of siren, as ambulance is stopped by Israeli soldiers)–Sound of siren as ambulance is stopped by Israeli soldiers. (11 Jul 2014)

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251-r-11-(Sound of Israeli water cannon letting off blast, while Israeli soldiers fire stun grenades)–Sound of Israeli water cannon letting off blast while Israeli soldiers fire stun grenades. (11 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO AXLP135: Israeli soldiers gather for a break on a mobile artillery unit at a position on the Israel-Gaza border, Friday, July 11, 2014. Gaza rocket fire struck a gas station and set it ablaze Friday in southern Israel, seriously wounding one person as rocket fire also came from Lebanon for the first time in the four-day-long offensive. Rocket fire by Palestinian militants continued from Gaza toward various locations in southern Israel. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (11 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO AXLP134: Smoke trails are seen after missiles are fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza City towards southern Israel, as seen from the Israel-Gaza border, Friday, July 11, 2014. Gaza rocket fire by Palestinian militants struck a gas station and set it ablaze Friday in southern Israel, seriously wounding one person as rocket fire also came from Lebanon for the first time in the four-day-long offensive. Rocket fire by Palestinian militants continued from Gaza toward various locations in southern Israel. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (11 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO GAZ105: Palestinian relatives mourn over the body of Noor Alnajedy, 10, who was killed during an Israeli air strike on a building near his family house, at the main mosque during his funeral in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Friday July 11, 2014. Israel launched the Gaza offensive to stop incessant rocket fire that erupted after three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and killed in the West Bank and a Palestinian teenager was abducted and burned to death in an apparent reprisal attack. The military says it has hit more than 1,100 targets already, mostly what it identified as rocket-launching sites, bombarding the territory on average every five minutes. (AP Photo/Eyad Baba) (11 Jul 2014)

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APPHOTO GFX2872: Map shows towns hit with airstrikes or rocket attacks.; 2c x 3 inches; 96.3 mm x 76 mm; (11 Jul 2014)

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Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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