CRI听力:Israeli Offensive Enters Seventh Day amid Calls for Ceasefire

Smoke can be seen rising from several locations near the Gaza Strip as Israeli air strikes continue.

Three training facilities of Hamas's military wing and several buildings in Gaza City were hit on Monday.

The moves come after the UN Security Council unanimously approved a statement urging for calm and new peace talks.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the offensive will continue until the Israeli goal is achieved.

"Well, first let me say what the mission is. Our mission is to restore a sustainable quiet, sustainable security to our people by seriously degrading Hamas and other terrorist groups' capabilities in Gaza. I think we are proceeding and it will continue until that goal is achieved."

Israel has launched over 1,300 air strikes since the offensive started.

On Sunday, Israeli navy commandos raided Gaza in the first ground assault of this latest offensive.

Earlier, about 17,500 residents of Gaza in a northern border town fled from home, after Israeli military warned it planned to intensify air strikes against suspected militants who have been launching rockets into Israel from Gaza.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has already appealed to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for international protection for the Palestinians.

"We wish for a speedy response because the situation has become unbearable, because the Israeli offensive is relentless day and night, because of the hundreds of dead, thousands of injured and enormous destruction. We submit this request and hope that the Secretary General considers it and speedily responds."

Ban Ki-moon calls on the two sides to take "immediate measures" to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas militants have fired nearly 1,000 rockets at Israel, causing injuries and damage to property, but no fatalities have been reported among Israelis.

The intensified conflicts have sparked protests in Muslim countries, as China and other nations also seek an end to the military action.

Chinese Middle East envoy Wu Sike, who is currently on a Middle East tour, has urged the two sides to resolve conflicts through peace talks.

Germany and the United States are also calling for peace but so far neither Israel nor the Palestinian militants show signs of agreeing to a cease-fire.

For CRI, I'm Cao Yuwei.