Israel kills militant, vows to press Gaza offensive

GAZA, July 10 (Reuters) An Israeli air strike killed one Palestinian militant and wounded three others in the Gaza Strip today after the Jewish state vowed an open-ended offensive to free an abducted soldier and halt rocket attacks.

The Israeli army said an aircraft fired at a group that was preparing to fire a rocket into Israel. Palestinian security sources said the group included armed men from several factions, including the governing Hamas militant group.

Israeli forces launched their offensive, the first such push into Gaza since troops and settlers withdrew from the territory last year, after Palestinian gunmen abducted Corporal Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid on June 25.

Israel has rejected calls by the three militant factions that grabbed the tank gunner to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for information about him.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday rejected the possibility of a truce raised by Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas.

''This is a war that cannot be on a timetable,'' a senior government official quoted Olmert as telling his cabinet, a day after Haniyeh made his proposal.

''There is no intention to reoccupy Gaza in order to stay there, but if certain operations are needed they will be carried out. We will operate, enter and pull out as needed,'' Olmert was quoted as saying.

The official quoted Olmert as saying such a move would strengthen Hamas at the expense of ''moderate elements'' in the Palestinian Authority.

The offensive by ground and air forces has continued despite expressions of concern from the European Union and United Nations at the worst fighting between Israelis and Palestinians since 2004 and a potential humanitarian crisis.

Israel's main ally, the United States, has been less critical.

''Let's remember who started this,'' U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told CNN. ''It was the outrageous actions of Hamas in violating Israel's sovereignty, in taking the soldier hostage.'' Israeli forces have destroyed a main power station in Gaza and killed about 50 people, including 20 civilians, residents said.

Early today, the Israeli army said an aircraft destroyed a weapons depot belonging to the Islamic Jihad faction. Like Hamas, the group is committed to destroying Israel.

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