Netanyahu warns Israel of 'lengthy battle' with besieged Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned Israeli community leaders of southern Israeli towns that their country is engaged in a "lengthy battle" with the besieged Gaza Strip.

This comes after the Israeli military deployed extra Iron Dome anti-missile batteries across the southern and central regions of Israel - including capital city Tel Aviv - on Sunday evening. Reservists from the air force unit were called up to provide additional support.

A statement from the Israeli army said that the army is "determined to continue to defend Israeli citizens and is ready for a variety of scenarios that could continue and intensify according to the assessment of the situation and the operational need".

Netanyahu continues to threaten Gaza despite an unofficial ceasefire taking place on Sunday evening, which it is hoped will suspend Israel's brutal assault on the besieged enclave.

Palestinians mourned on Saturday when Palestinian children were killed - and at least fourteen others injured - from Israeli rocket strikes on Gaza.

The two children have been identified as Amir al-Namra, 15, and Loay Kaheel, 16. The childhood friends were playing in a park when an Israeli rocket killed them both.

The victims were transferred to Gaza's largest hospital, al-Shifa Hospital, according to a Hamas-run Gaza health ministry spokesperson.

The assault began in the early hours of Saturday when Israel said it struck two Hamas tunnels during air-raids on Gaza.

The attacks continued on Saturday afternoon launched airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip aimed at Hamas positions, according to local security sources and eyewitnesses.

The majority of Israel's rockets targeted bases belonging to Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades - the Hamas movement's military wing.

The Israeli warplanes on Saturday afternoon also bombed Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, when targeting the al-Qassam run Palestine training site. 

Israel struck the area with more than 14 rockets in less than 20 minutes, hitting a field, according to The New Arab's Gaza correspondent.