'Israel not to end Gaza offensive for global pressure'

Jerusalem, July 12 (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday his country would not bow to international pressure to halt the offensive on Gaza.

"No international pressure will prevent us from acting with full power," Xinhua quoted Netanyahu as telling in a news conference. "The operation will continue until quiet is returned to Israel."

As Netanyahu talked to reporters in Tel Aviv, Gaza militants fired a rocket toward the city, and was intercepted over the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, an Israeli army announcement said.

Netanyahu said he had "good talks" over the phone with US President Barack Obama, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, and other European leaders.

He also said that since the operation began Tuesday, Israel has attacked more than 1,000 sites in Gaza, twice as many as it did during operation Pillar of Defence, a similar offensive which occurred in 2012.

Southern and central Israel have been hit by long-ranged rockets fired from Gaza. Over the last four days, nearly 550 rockets have been fired towards the country, according to the army Spokesperson's Unit.

Iron Dome, Israel's anti-missiles defence system, intercepted most of the rockets.