Senior Israeli officialson Tuesday denied U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's claim that Israel had requested the United States to promote a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.

"Kerry was the one who brought up the option of a cease-fire to (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, and not the other way around," unnamed officials were quoted as saying by the Ha'aretz daily.

"Netanyahu told Kerry that currently the continuation of the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) operation is necessary for Israel to protect its citizens and neutralize the underground terror tunnels, " they added. "The prime minister said the operation will continue as long the operation to neutralize the tunnels is ongoing."

The comments signal that Israeli officials are adamant about continuing their military offensive that has resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 Palestinian civilians and dozens of Israeli soldiers. Earlier on Monday Netanyahu told Israeli citizens through a press conference to prepare for "a prolonged campaign."

Kerry said at a press conference earlieron Tuesdaythat Israel was the one asking the United States to help facilitate a humanitarian cease-fire with Hamas, as the conflict in the Gaza Strip entered the 22ndday.

Israel rejected over the weekend a proposal set forth by Kerry and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a week-long truce in fighting, during which, as proposed, both sides would conduct indirect talks via regional mediators to discuss their demands.

But Israeli officials said the proposal rewarded Hamas for launching rockets at Israel and did not pertain to Israel's security concerns. U.S. officials were later "disappointed" by the Israeli leak of details of the proposal, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki saidon Monday.

Hamas demands that Israel ease the blockade that it has imposed on the coastal enclave since 2007 when Hamas took control the strip, open the crossings into the Gaza Strip and release 56 Hamas members who were captured by Israel in the West Bank in June after three Israeli teens were abducted and killed.

Israel wants to demilitarize the strip and see international forces deployed in the area, as well as an end to rocket attacks and a complete destruction of the underground "terror" tunnels, some of which have made their way into the surrounding southern Israeli communities.

Fightings in Gaza continuedon Tuesday despite an earlier report by the Palestinian Authority of an agreement on a 72-hour cease-fire between the two sides. But Hamas shook off the proposal, while Israel did not respond. The Israeli cabinet is set to meet on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the operation and the cease-fire efforts.

More than 50 rockets were launched at southern and central Israel throughout the day on Tuesday, including the Judea area north-west of Jerusalem. Mortar rounds fired at Israel injured four soldiers. Israel continued its attacks on Gaza targets by air and artillery.

Ten Israeli soldiers have died in the past 24 hours, five of whom were killed when militants managed to infiltrate the border, four others killed by mortar fireon Mondayand one during a clash with a Palestinian militant in southern Gaza alsoon Monday.

The Israeli army killed five suspected militantson Tuesday afternoon after they were seen exiting a tunnel near the southern Gaza Strip, the IDF spokesperson unit said in a statement.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, since Israel's military operation began on July 8, more than 1,200 Palestinians have been killed, mostly civilians, and over 6,500 wounded. Fifty- three soldiers and three Israeli civilians have died since Israel' s ground incursion into the strip began on July 17, while some 106 more soldiers sustained wounds of varying degrees. 

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