By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli forces killed 22 Palestinians inthe Hamas-led Gaza Strip on Saturday in the most intensefighting in weeks and Israel threatened a broader offensive tostop rocket fire.
A total of 57 Palestinians have been killed in four days ofIsraeli raids and air strikes in the Gaza Strip that the Jewishstate launched after cross-border rockets killed an Israeli manon Wednesday and reached deep into a southern city.
Of the 22 killed on Saturday, 11 were civilians and therest militants, according to hospital staff and the IslamistHamas movement, which seized control of Gaza last June afterrouting the more secular forces of Palestinian PresidentMahmoud Abbas.
Witnesses said fighting erupted after Israel soldiers,backed by helicopter gunships, entered northern Gaza and wereconfronted by Palestinian gunmen.
The Israeli army confirmed its forces were operating in thearea and five soldiers were lightly wounded in the fighting.
An army spokeswoman said about 20 rockets were fired intoIsrael on Saturday, including three Soviet-designed Gradmissiles, which are more powerful and accurate than improvised,locally produced Qassams.
Three Israelis were lightly injured by rockets that reacheddeep into Ashkelon, a city of some 120,000 people.
Israeli leaders said they may have no choice but to launcha broader offensive in the Gaza Strip if Palestinian militantsdo not stop rocket attacks on the Jewish state.
MOUNTING ANGER
On Friday, Israel's Deputy Defence Minister Matan Vilnaiwarned Gazans they risked a "shoah" if rocket fire did not end.An aide said Vilnai meant "disaster" rather than "holocaust,"the word's more common meaning.
The strength of his language reflected mounting anger afterWednesday's killing.
The United States urged Israel to "consider theconsequences" of any action ahead of next week's visit by U.S.Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
More bloodshed could derail Washington's hopes of a peacedeal before President George W. Bush steps down next January.
Hamas officials said there had been an "internationalsilence" over the "massacre", including from fellow Arabs.
Abbas, who remains deeply hostile to Hamas, called Israel'sthreats and preparations to target Gaza "dangerous".
Israel withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 after38 years.
Though rocket fire has long disrupted life in southernIsraeli towns, the killing of the Israeli on Wednesday -- thefirst death of its kind since May -- has put pressure onIsraeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to increase military action.
Hamas has said the rocket attacks were a response toIsraeli raids into Gaza and the West Bank.
(Writing by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Caroline Drees)
