Israel bombarded Gaza with fresh airstrikes as Ehud Olmert, the Prime Minister, said that its operation would go on — despite it failing to win the release of Gilad Shalit, a soldier seized by Palestinians two weeks ago.

Forty-one Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have been killed since Israel launched its operation last Wednesday, pouring tanks and troops into the Gaza Strip and moving into land evacuated in September after a 38-year occupation.

Yesterday a bystander was killed and seven Palestinians were wounded when an Israeli aircraft fired two rockets at a car carrying three members of the armed wing of the ruling Hamas party near the town of Rafah. A weapons depot in Gaza City was later destroyed by another missile. Israel has rejected a call by Ismail Haniya, the Palestinian Prime Minister, for a mutual ceasefire, saying there would be no lull until Palestinian rocket attacks end and Corporal Shalit is returned.

Palestinian militants fired two rockets into Israel’s southern desert town of Sderot, lightly wounding one man. (AFP)

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