Israeli push in Gaza enters 12th day

GAZA CITY, Gaza (CNN) - Fresh gunfire and explosions echoed across Gaza on Wednesday after one of the deadliest days of the now 12-day-old conflict so far.

Israeli warplanes and helicopter gunships hit 30 targets in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory overnight, while land-based artillery and warships offshore fired at Palestinian fighters in support of Israeli ground troops, the Israel Defense Forces reported.

Israel says the campaign is aimed at halting the firing of rockets into southern Israel by Hamas, which wrested control of Gaza in 2007.  Nearly 600 Palestinians, including at least 100 women and children, have been killed in Gaza since the campaign began, according to Palestinian medical sources.