Israel vows to keep up Gaza attacks

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Israeli airstrikes pounded Hamas-ruled Gaza on Saturday, killing at least 205 people, and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the military aimed to inflict a "major blow" on militants in Gaza because of escalating rocket attacks against Israel.

A Palestinian boy wounded by an Israeli missile awaits treatment Saturday outside a hospital in Gaza City.
"In the last few weeks ... ground missiles and mortars have been directed at our community in the south of our country. We have no intention of allowing these attacks to continue," Barak said at a news conference.

The Israeli attacks would continue through the night, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. Hamas vowed to retaliate.

"We will stand up, we will defend our own people, we will defend our land and we will not give up," said senior Hamas spokesman Osama Hamden.

A statement from the IDF said Israeli aircraft were attacking "a series of Hamas targets and infrastructure facilities," including headquarters, training camps and weaponry storage warehouses.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called for patience.