Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said military will launch further strikes on Gaza Strip militants in response to rocket fire from the territory, as an escalation entered its second day.

Netanyahu said, “"I instructed the (military) this morning to continue its massive strikes on terror elements in the Gaza Strip and ordered (it) to reinforce the troops around the Gaza Strip with tanks, artillery and infantry forces."

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Israel said around 450 rockets or mortars had been fired from the Palestinian enclave run by Hamas since Saturday, and it responded with waves of air and tank strikes.

According to Gazan authorities, six Palestinians killed in the Israeli strikes, including at least two militants.

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Israeli police and the hospital said,  Israel disputed their account of the deaths of a pregnant mother and her baby, blaming errant Hamas fire. One 58-year-old Israeli man was killed overnight by a rocket strike on the city of Ashkelon near the Gaza border,

Netanyahu is currently negotiating to form a new government following his victory in April 9 elections. A ceasefire brokered by UN and Egyptian officials between Israel and Hamas had led to calm surrounding the elections.