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Story Highlights• NEW: Israel says no cease-fire negotiations; "military pressure" will continue• Israeli airstrike hits Gaza, killing 2 members of Hamas' military wing • Israel has been pounding Gaza to stop Hamas militants from firing on Israel • Israel PM Olmert, Palestinian Authority President Abbas to meet next week Adjust font size:
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel's government said Wednesday that a cease-fire with Palestinian militants is not on the table, and its military will continue to target militants in Gaza. The announcement from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office followed a security cabinet meeting Wednesday morning on the situation in Gaza, where militants have fired hundreds of Qassam rockets into Israel in recent weeks. According to the statement, security sources briefed the cabinet on Israeli military activity in Gaza, namely "the effectiveness of the actions Israel was taking and the comparative lessening of Qassam rocket fire." "It was emphasized that Israel is not negotiating a cease-fire with the terror groups," the statement said. "Israel will continue to hit and put military pressure on the terror organizations especially the Hamas and Islamic Jihad free of any constrictions to a time table." Israeli aircraft have been pounding Gaza in an effort to stop Hamas militants from firing Qassam rockets into Israeli territory. Israeli forces have also staged limited ground incursions into Gaza, targeting militants there. Qassam rocket attacks have killed two Israelis and wounded dozens in and around the Israeli town of Sderot in recent weeks. The Israeli airstrikes have killed dozens of Palestinians. The latest strike happened early Wednesday outside the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza, killing two members of the military wing of Hamas, Palestinian security sources said. In an effort to defuse the latest flare-up in tensions, Olmert will meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas next week, Olmert's office said in a statement released Tuesday. The precise date and location has yet to be determined. Israeli forces have arrested dozens of Palestinians -- including some lawmakers -- and engaged Palestinian gunmen. Israeli forces killed two Palestinian gunmen on Tuesday in Ramallah and outside Jenin. The Ramallah shooting happened on a main street in the West Bank city, where the Palestinian government is based. Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti accused Israeli forces of violating international law by fatally shooting a man in the head at point-blank range during the Ramallah gunbattle that involved "heavy, random shooting," an Information Ministry statement said. An Israeli army spokeswoman said the man was armed and continued to move toward the Israeli forces after he was shot in the leg, prompting them to shoot him again. Barghouti also said he was caught in the crossfire, and that bullets hit his car but no one was injured. CNN's Shira Medding contributed to this report. An Israeli armored personnel carrier leaves Palestinian territory in northern Gaza on Wednesday.
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