Barak says Israel does not intend to allow Islamic Hamas militants who rule Gaza to continue firing rockets and mortars on Israel's southern communities.
Hamas says at least 205 Palestinians were killed in the first day of the offensive and over 310 were wounded.
Barak says there is a time for calm and a time for fighting. Speaking at a news conference Saturday, he said "now is the time for fighting" and that "the operation will expand as necessary."
Meanwhile in Lebanon Health Minister Mohammed Khalife told the local New TV station : "We have asked for a list of requested humanitarian aid to Palestinians so we could send them from here to the hospitals in Gaza.
Tags: Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, source: AP, Ya Libnan
