The death toll continues to climb in Gaza amid more air strikes by the Israeli military in its battle with militants in the violence-torn city.

Despite the pleas of Palestinian President Madmud Abbas, to end the rocket attacks, the heavily-armed Hamas faction is demanding that Israel stop shooting first.

Since the air strikes began on Gaza, at least 45 Palestinians have been killed. Israel says the strikes are its answer to the firing of rockets into the country by the militants. The rockets have killed one Israeli and left 19 more injured.