more than 6,500 palestinians have been wounded in the israeli strikes .
israeli attacks in the strip continued thursday , with witnesses saying ... ( associated press ) jerusalem ( ap ) — prime minister benjamin netanyahu said thursday that israel will destroy the hamas tunnel network in the gaza strip " with or without a cease - fire , " as the military called up another 16,000 reservists to pursue its campaign in the densely - populated territory .
palestinian president mahmoud abbas has declared gaza strip , on thursday , july 31 , 2014 .
subscribe to haaretz and get full coverage for wednesday 's live updates , click here latest updates [ thursday ] : 1:18 a.m. u.s. secretary of state john kerry says gaza ceasefire a ' lull of opportunity , ' imperative that sides make best efforts to find common ground .
an israeli delegation traveled to cairo on wednesday for several hours of talks over egypt ’s efforts to broker a truce in gaza .
as israel 's operation protective edge entered its 24th day on thursday , the security cabinet has ordered the military to press on with the offensive in the gaza strip , focusing on the destruction of hamas ' tunnel network .
an initial israeli aerial campaign against hamas was widened into a ground offensive on july 17 .
in gaza , the death toll in the israeli operation has topped 1,360 according to palestinian health officials .
an official said israel of committing war crimes .