Palestinian sources said at least eight members from one family were killed in an overnight strike by Israeli forces. No comment so far on the strike from Israel. But Palestinians say, it is the deadliest single strike on Gaza since the offensive intensified three days ago. More than 60 people are now said to have been killed. Meanwhile, Israel says that though the number of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel has increased and the rockets have reached farther than ever, so far, no casualties have been reported there.

More injured rushed to the hospital; more dead added to a growing count. Among them, Palestinian officials say, 8 members of a single family, killed in a strike on two homes in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

"This is a crime against the Palestinian people. Against children, against women, against our scholars. What was the fault of these children who were just sleeping in their beds and these airstrikes shake and demolish the homes over their heads? In which religion, which Islam, which other country in the world has the Israeli army hit a home with airstrikes, rockets, demolish a home over children and its inhabitants? What crime did they commit? What crime is it of a three year old and four year old?" said Mohammed Al Nuasrah, Gaza Resident.

Israel blames its sworn Islamist enemy in Gaza, Hamas, for the loss of civilians.

"We will continue to protect our civilians against Hamas attacks on them. Now Hamas, by contrast, is deliberately putting Palestinian civilians into harm’s way. It embeds its terrorists in hospitals, schools, mosques and apartment buildings throughout the Gaza Strip. Hamas is thus committing a double war crime: It targets Israeli civilians, while hiding behind Palestinian civilians." said Binyamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister.

Hamas says it has escalated its attacks on Israel, by air and sea, in response to Israel’s offensive on Gaza, and its ongoing occupation in the Palestinian West Bank.

"Those who ask us to keep quiet and stop our firing, why don’t you ask the other party If they want to stop the bloodshed, they have to take two measures: first, they have to pressurize Netanyahu and his gangsters, the killers, to stop their assaults on Gaza and the West Bank. They have to pressurize Netanyahu to change his policy." said Khaled Meshaal, Hamas Leader.

The escalation has gained international attention. For now, Washington appears to be backing Israel’s right, as American officials say, to strike back at those who are firing at it. But leaders from the European Union and the United Nations were calling for restraint from both sides.

"I am alarmed by the new wave of violence that has engulfed Gaza, southern Israel and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This is one of the most critical tests the region has faced in recent years." said Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary General.

Secretary Ban has called for an urgent meeting with the UN’s Security Council.

Ban has already asked Egypt’s President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi to mediate between the two sides, like it has done in the past. Cairo helped broker a ceasefire back in November of 2012. For now, Hamas leaders are saying: they won’t go back to those terms. For its part, Israel is maintaining its position that quote "calm will be met with calm."