In another development...Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has appealed to the people of Gaza to turn against their Hamas rulers, saying they were responsible for the territory's suffering.

Olmert made the announcement through an Arabic-language TV program that Israel would not hesitate to respond with force if attacks continued.

"They asked for cease fire, we agreed for a cease fire, there was no cease fire for one day. They kept shooting, and shooting... I am telling them now, it may be the last minute. I'm telling them - stop it. We are stronger. There will be more blood there. Who wants it? We don't want it."

According to the Israeli military, two rockets and 15 mortar shells had exploded in Israel Thursday night, as Israel moved closer to a punishing military offensive against Hamas-ruled Gaza.

One of the mortar shells landed at Israel's passenger crossing with Gaza just as a group of Christians were going through, en route to the West Bank town of Bethlehem for Christmas celebrations.

Israel left Gaza in 2005 after a 38-year occupation, but still controls its border crossings, blockaded for months in an effort to pressure militants to halt their fire.

Islamic Hamas militants seized control of Gaza in June 2007, after routing security forces loyal to Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.