Israeli missiles flattened five ministerial buildings and a structure belonging to the Islamic University in Gaza City.
The African Union has urged the United Nations to "compel" Israel to halt its "massive and disproportionate" attacks on the Gaza Strip. In its biggest act of violence against Gaza in 60 years, Israel began air operations against the coastal sliver on Saturday. The conflict has resulted in the death of 360 Palestinians ( and still counting) and four Israelis in the past four days.
About 1600 Palestinians and eight Israelis have also been injured.
"The (AU) Commission strongly condemns the ongoing air raids on the Gaza Strip by Israel since 27 December," the continental bloc said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement said the strikes on the densely populated territory are in clear violation of the international law.
"This massive and disproportionate attack constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law and will further aggravate the suffering of the civilian population, which, as a result of the siege imposed by Israel, has been faced by shortages of food, medicine and fuel," it said.
The body said the UN Security Council and members of the Middle East diplomatic Quartet should "fully assume their responsibilities towards the civilians in the Gaza Strip by compelling Israel to an immediate ceasefire".
Israel on Tuesday rejected the possibility of signing a truce with Hamas fighters, saying it is ready for "long weeks of action".
"The Israeli army must not stop the operation before breaking the will of the Palestinians, of Hamas, to continue to fire at Israel," Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit said.
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