Israeli jets have bombed 40 tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip in a second day of intense air raids aimed at forcing Hamas militants to halt rocket fire.

In the latest raids jets bombed tunnels in the Rafah area, used to bring supplies into Gaza from Egypt. Israel says they are used for arms smuggling.

Palestinians now say at least 280 people have died in the air raids.

Israel has threatened to launch a ground assault and has authorised a call-up of 6,500 army reservists.

At the UN, the Security Council called for an end to all violence in Gaza, including rocket attacks from Gaza.

Israel says militants have fired 110 rockets into Israel since Saturday.

See a detailed map of the area

A doctor at the Shifa hospital in

Israeli jets have launched new air attacks on the Gaza Strip, amid warnings that operations will continue until Hamas ends rocket fire from Gaza.

Palestinian officials raised the number killed in Saturday's strikes to 271. If confirmed that would make it the bloodiest day in Gaza's history.

The UN Security Council called for an immediate end to all violence in Gaza.

Gazans are preparing to hold funerals while a general strike has been called for the Palestinian territories.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said operations could begin on the ground if air strikes did not change Hamas's behaviour.

'Protecting citizens'

At the UN, the Security Council held emergency talks, and was said to be discussing a Russian-drafted statement.

Off

Airstrikes have continued to target the Gaza Strip as Israel's leaders warn operations would continue until Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza ceased.

Palestinian officials said at least 230 people were killed on Saturday, which if confirmed would make it the bloodiest day in Gaza's history.

The UN Security Council is discussing a statement calling for a ceasefire.

Gazans are preparing to hold funerals while a general strike has been called for the Palestinian territories.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said operations would continue on the ground if air strikes were not enough to change Hamas's behaviour.

'Protecting citizens'

The Security Council was said to be discussing a Russian-drafted statement calling for Israel to halt its military operati

Israel says it will widen its attacks on Hamas if necessary to stop the Palestinian militant group firing rockets from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli F-16 bombers hit targets across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing at least 225 people, local medics say.

"If what we're doing in the air will not suffice we'll continue on the ground," Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak told BBC News.

Israel's air raids were the heaviest on the Gaza Strip for decades.

Most of those killed were policemen in the Hamas militant movement, which controls Gaza, but women and children also died, Gaza officials said.

About 700 others were wounded, as missiles struck security compounds and militant bases, the officials added.

Israeli F-16 bombers have launched a series of air strikes against key targets in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 155 people, medical chiefs say.

Gaza officials and the Hamas militant group said about 200 others were hurt as missiles hit security compounds and militant bases across the territory.

The strikes, the most intense Israeli attacks on Gaza for decades, come days after a truce with Hamas expired.

Israel said the operation would go on "as long as necessary".

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said "it won't be easy and it won't be short".

"There is a time for calm and a time for fighting, and now the time has come to fight," he said, quoted by Reuters.

Israel said it was responding to an escalat