OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — As it continued its aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip, Israel threatened to turn the area into a "bigger holocaust" for the Palestinians.

"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," Deputy Israeli Defense Minister Matan Vilnai told Israeli Army Radio in statements carried by Reuters.

The Holocaust is a very sensitive issue In Israel as it conjures up horrific killings and executions of Jews by the Nazis. Commentators say this is the first time an Israeli official uses the term "shoah", the Hebrew word for holocaust, metaphorically to describe contemporary events.

The Israeli deputy Defense Minister also said that Israel’s patience is wearing thin to launch a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.

"We will not shy away from any action," to force the Palestinian groups to stop firing rocket into Israeli cities, Vilnai said.

On Feb. 29, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak sent confidential messages to world leaders and officials, including US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, trying to justify the currently prepared offensive, according to Israel’s mass circulation daily Yedioth Ahronoth.

"Israel is not keen on and rushing for an offensive, but Hamas is leaving us no choice," Barak said in his message.

The chief of the Israeli left-wing Meretz party, Yossi Beilin, voiced his opposition to a ground invasion of the Strip, calling for talks with Hamas.

"My solution is to reach a cease-fire with Hamas," Beilin told Israeli public radio.

Beilin said Hamas has expressed an interest in a truce over the last few weeks and that it was irresponsible of Israel not to respond to them.

"At least on two occasions, Hamas has passed on truce offers to Israel via third parties," he said.

According to a survey published in Haaretz newspaper on Feb. 27, most Israelis think their government should hold direct talks with Hamas to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shilat, who was taken prisoner in a cross-border joint operation by Palestinian resistance groups.

Meanwhile, using US-made F-16 warplanes and Apache helicopters, Israel has killed at least 32 Gazans, several of them civilians, including a toddler named Mohammad..

"The bastards killed him!" shouted the boy’s tearful father, Naser.

"I ran like crazy to Mohammad’s cradle. He was motionless," the bereaved father said as he recalled the heart-wrenching scene.

Naser rushed his bleeding son to the hospital in the immediate vicinity but it was too late.

"He was already dead. The Israelis killed this helpless innocent toddler," said Naser with a tinge of bitterness in his voice.

In killing a toddler, Naser says Israel is targeting all Palestinians.

"Why on earth did they kill our joy?" cried Naser.

"Why did they deprive me of the love of my life? Why did they kill him?"

At Mohammad’s cradle, the mother was still in a state of shock that she could not speak.

"God damn this world as it stands idly while Israel kills a toddler?" Naser fumed. "What if Mohammad was Israeli, not Palestinian?"

The Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Public Affairs Council issued a joint statement condemning Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

"The killing of civilians on either side of this tragic conflict only serves to deepen mutual hostility and mistrust. We condemn all attacks on Palestinian or Israeli civilians and urge President Bush to address the humanitarian crisis, and end our nation’s uncritical support for Israel’s brutal and counterproductive actions."