Live blog: Gaza under attack

US Secretary of State John Kerry has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone, according to Haaretz.

The Israeli military is to ask the Israeli cabinet for 18,000 reservists in case the ground operation expands.

According to Chief of Staff Lieut. Gen. Benny Gantz: "we'll launch a joint ground-aerial assault, using full force. We'll continue to expand the fire all over the Gaza Strip."

In a press conference covering a number of global issues, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has called for calm in Gaza:

"I urge Israel to do far more stop civilian causalities. There can be no military solution to this conflict, that applies as much to Hamas as to Israel."

A Hamas spokesperson has slammed the planned Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip:

"The ground operation in the Gaza Strip is a drastic, dangerous step, and the occupation will pay a heavy price for it."

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, has reportedly sent a text message saying: "We've been eagerly awaiting this ground operation to teach the Israelis a lesson!"

The Prime Minister's Office released a statement on the current ground incursion in the Gaza Strip:

"The prime minister and the defense minister have ordered the IDF to begin a ground operation in order to damage the underground tunnel terrors constructed in Gaza leading into Israeli territory.

Such a tunnel was used earlier this morning by Hamas terrorists to enter Israeli territory, with intent to case massive harm to Israeli civilians.

The IDF successfully thwarted this attempt at terrorism as well. The prime minister and the defense minister have ordered the IDF to make preparations for expanding the ground operation. The order to act tonight has been approved by the security cabinet, after Israel agreed to the Egyptian cease-fire proposal which Hamas rejected and proceeded to fire rockets at Israel.

Nor did Hamas uphold the humanitarian cease-fire initiated by the UN, continuing to fire at Israel instead. In light of Hamas' unending criminal attacks, and its dangerous incursions into Israeli territory, Israel is forced to defend its citizens. Operation Protective Edge will continue until it achieves its objective – to restore quiet and safety to Israelis for a long time to come, while significantly harming the infrastructure of Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip."
 

The Israeli army has launched a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said the death toll since Israel's military onslaught against Gaza began has reached 240, with 1,800 people wounded.