Israeli campaign, foreign diplomacy go on

GAZA, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Israel said Monday its operation against Hamas in Gaza would go on until the security situation was revised and Hamas wasn't firing rockets into Israel.

Meanwhile foreign leaders, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, went to the region Monday, hoping to coax both sides to consider a cease-fire in the region, The New York Times reported.

Israel also opened some border crossings to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, CNN reported.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Monday during a news conference Israel was "not only defending its right to defend itself" but was also waging a regional campaign "against extremism and against terror."

She made her remarks after meeting with European Union envoys.

Livni defended Israel's actions in Gaza, saying, "When Israel is targeted, Israel is going to retaliate."

Sarkozy met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Monday and planned to visit Jerusalem, Damascus and Ramallah in the West Bank. Tony Blair, the former British prime minister now the envoy for the so-called Quartet group of the United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations, met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.

Israel has said it wants to end Hamas's will or ability to shoot rockets at southern Israel. It began airstrikes on Hamas militants in Gaza Dec. 27 and initiated a ground attack Saturday.

Since the operations began, the death toll of Palestinians has passed 500, including a reported 100 civilians, the Times reported. Israeli officials said five people have been killed by Hamas shelling.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio Hamas "sustained a very heavy blow from us," but Israeli forces " have yet to achieve our objective."