The Israeli military says it has shot down more rockets sent by Palestinian militants as a major air offensive over the Gaza Strip continues for a second day.

A spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces said the military has intercepted a total of eight rockets sent from Gaza.

In Gaza, meanwhile, news agency AFP is reporting that a further 11 Palestinians have been killed in fresh Israeli strikes.

The fatalities come after at least 20 people, including children, were killed overnight in the biggest Israeli assault on Gaza in nearly two years.

Israel says it is being attacked, and posted this video to its Defence Forces' Twitter page:

Israel Defence Forces posted this video on YouTube and Twitter

The Israeli cabinet has warned it may now send ground troops into Gaza, and has authorised the call-up of 40,000 reservists.

Tovah Lazrov of The Jerusalem Post, spoke to Newstalk's Breakfast:

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said continued rocket attacks on Israeli communities would not be tolerated.

"Therefore I have ordered the military to significantly broaden its operation against Hamas terrorists and against the other terrorist groups inside Gaza," he said on national TV.

Recent tension

Tensions have increased since the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank on June 12. Their bodies were found last week. Subsequently, a Palestinian teenage was abducted and burned to death in what was viewed as a revenge attack.

Israeli Government spokesman Mark Regev:

Mustafa Barghouti is a Palestinian politician and leader of the Palestinian National Initiative party.

Meanwhile, in Ireland, a man has appeared in court after allegedly blocking the car of the Israeli ambassador to Ireland by lying down on the road outside his embassy.

Stephen Bennett of Pearse Green, Sallynoggin was arrested yesterday during a protest outside the building on Pembroke Road in Ballsbridge.

He was granted bail today and ordered not to interfere with the people's use of public roads.