The announcement came after one of its convoys came under Israeli fire at the Netzarim crossing during the three-hour lull in fighting on Thursday. One driver was lightly injured.

Israel continued bombing Gaza after nightfall on Thursday, the 13th day of a devastating land, sea, and air assault on Hamas militants in Gaza.

Casualties in the territory are mounting steadily. Gaza hospital officials and human rights workers put the number of dead at nearly 750. UN officials say about half of them were civilians.

Palestinian officials reported some two dozen airstrikes in Gaza on Thursday, which killed at least 24 people.

Two Israeli soldiers were also killed in combat, raising the number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza to eight.

Meanwhile, four Israelis, including a soldier, were killed by rockets fired at Israeli cities on the same day.

(CCTV January 9, 2009)