JERUSALEM, Sept 30: Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz has decided to carry out a large-scale military operation in northern Gaza aimed at halting Palestinian rocket attacks, Israeli radio stations reported Thursday.

Army radio said the decision was taken in consultation with senior army officers and the head of the Shin Beth intelligence service, Avi Dichter, following talks with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Israeli troops stepped up operations in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday after a rocket fired from the region killed two young children in the Israeli town of Sderot.

A total of 14 Palestinians and three Israelis were killed in fierce fighting on Thursday. Sharon has ordered security officials "to take all necessary measures to stop the firing of Qassam rockets", the home made weapons fired by the Hamas.

Public radio said the aim of the Israeli incursion was reoccupy a wide enough sweep of northern Gaza to leave Israeli territory out of reach of the crudely manufactured Qassam rockets. The operation may require a call-up of reservists, the radio said. -AFP