Israel rejects Hamas call for cease-fire

? The head of the Hamas-led Palestinian government called Saturday for a truce to halt the Israeli offensive in Gaza, but Israel demanded that Hamas first free a captured Israeli soldier and halt rocket attacks on its southern towns.

Israeli troops scaled back their operations to two spots in Gaza as fighting claimed the lives of six Palestinians, raising the death toll to at least 44 since the incursion began last week.

Israeli aircraft targeted militants in western Gaza City early today, firing a missile at them and wounding four, one seriously, Palestinian hospital officials said. The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

Aircraft also fired a missile at a bridge in northern Gaza, collapsing it and knocking out a power transformer serving the town of Beit Hanoun, witnesses said. The military said it hit the bridge to stop militants using it to move rockets.

Israeli troops entered the Gaza Strip on June 28, three days after Hamas militants captured an Israeli soldier during a cross-border raid. Since then, Israel has been battering the coastal strip with heavy artillery barrages and airstrikes.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh urged Israel on Saturday to halt the offensive, release Palestinian prisoners and resume indirect talks about the captured soldier through mediators. But he did not offer to free Cpl. Gilad Shalit, 19.

“We want to activate this initiative to bring the region out of this whirlpool of blood,” Haniyeh said while touring Beit Lahiya, the hardest-hit Gaza town.

Hamas often sends out conflicting signals, however, in part because of divisions between its more militant leaders in Syria and more pragmatic politicians in Gaza. Israel has accused the Hamas political chief, Syrian-based Khaled Mashaal, of ordering Shalit’s capture.

Aides to Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he would not accept a truce until Shalit was freed. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said rocket attacks must stop first.

The militants have demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in exchange for Shalit.

The United Nations blamed Israel for a burgeoning crisis, including deaths, injuries and harm to children, created by its offensive in Gaza.

“Unless urgent action is taken,” a three-page statement released Saturday said, “we are facing a humanitarian crisis that will have far-reaching consequences.”