Israel's deputy war minister has threatened Palestinians with a 'bigger holocaust' if rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip continue.

"The more Qassam (rocket) fire intensifies and the rockets reach a longer range, they (the Palestinians) will bring upon themselves a bigger holocaust because we will use all our might to defend ourselves," Matan Vilnai told the Army Radio on Friday.

Earlier, the Israeli war minister Ehud Barak had said that the military would step up its operations against Palestinians and is "not afraid" of launching a "major ground" invasion.

Israeli air strikes on the coastal territory have killed at least 32 Palestinians, including five children, in the past two days. On Friday, Israeli air raid wounded 5 in Gaza, including 2 children.

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