Israeli attack on Hamas in Gaza enters second week

Gaza City: Israeli warplanes continued to bomb Gaza on Saturday in the second week of attack on Hamas, killing a senior commander of Hamas's armed wing, the group said on Saturday.

An Israeli missile also demolished the American School in the northern town of Beit Lahiya, witnesses said. A guard was killed in the strike.

The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying it had targeted a "a college used as a base for firing a large number of rockets."

An Israeli army spokesman said air attacks on "Hamas infrastructure" were continuing, while Hamas said commander Abu Zakaria Al Jamal died early on Saturday from wounds sustained in an Israeli air strike overnight.

At the same time, the armed wing of Hamas said it had repelled a patrol of Israeli special forces attempting to cross the border into Gaza.

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal had warned of a "black destiny" if Israel sent ground troops.

Meanwhile, US President George W. Bush called for a "meaningful ceasefire" between Hamas and Israel, while the US gave Israel free reign on whether or not to invade Gaza.

He urged all able parties to press Hamas to stop firing on Israel, and blamed Hamas for the latest violence.

"I urge all parties to pressure Hamas to turn away from terror, and to support legitimate Palestinian leaders working for peace," Bush said in his weekly radio address.