Israel vowed no let-up in its aerial bombardment of Gaza, which has claimed more than 162 Palestinian lives, as a defiant Hamas rained more rockets on the Jewish state. Both sides have dismissed calls for a truce, and Israel continued to build up troops along the Gaza border ahead of a possible ground invasion, warning Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes. Israeli navy commandos launched a ground operation overnight in the north of the Gaza Strip, the first since the offensive against Hamas began, Israeli public radio said early Sunday.

Smoke billows from buildings following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on July 11, 2014. — Photo by AFP

A pro-Palestinian activist shouts slogans during a rally against the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza strip outside the Mexican Foreign Ministry building in Mexico City on July 11, 2014. — Photo by AFP

A picture taken from the southern Israeli Gaza border shows rockets being fired from the Gaza strip into Israel, on July 12, 2014. — Photo by AFP

Israeli residents, mostly from the southern Israeli city of Sderot, sit on a hill overlooking the Gaza Strip, on July 12, 2014, to watch the fighting between the Israeli army and Palestinian militants. — Photo by AFP

A picture taken from the southern Israeli Gaza border shows rockets being fired from the Gaza strip into Israel, on July 12, 2014. — Photo by AFP

Palestinian children sleep on the floor at a UN school after evacuating their home near the border in Gaza City on July 13, 2014. Israeli marines mounted a first ground assault on Gaza, further escalating a deadly six-day offensive hours after the UN Security Council unanimously called for a ceasefire. — Photo by AFP

Palestinians gather at a UN school after evacuating their homes near the border in Gaza City on July 13, 2014. Israeli marines mounted a first ground assault on Gaza, further escalating a deadly six-day offensive hours after the UN Security Council unanimously called for a ceasefire. — Photo by AFP

Palestinian women and children gather at a UN school after evacuating their homes near the border in Gaza City on July 13, 2014. Israeli marines mounted a first ground assault on Gaza, further escalating a deadly six-day offensive hours after the UN Security Council unanimously called for a ceasefire. — Photo by AFP

Palestinian children take shelter at a UN school after evacuating their home near the border in Gaza City on July 13, 2014. — Photo by AFP

!Palestinians react after their relatives were killed in what hospital officials said was an Israeli air strike in Gaza City July 12, 2014. — Photo by Reuters][11]

Palestinians react after their relatives were killed in what hospital officials said was an Israeli air strike in Gaza City July 12, 2014. — Photo by Reuters][10]