GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces consolidated their hold on parts of Gaza’s north today, pounding the territory from the air, land and sea and killing at least seven children and six other civilians in a bruising campaign against Hamas militants.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the offensive would continue until Israel achieved “peace and tranquility” for residents of southern Israel who continued to be bombarded by Palestinian rocket and mortar fire.

A stream of diplomats and world leaders hoping to end the violence headed for the region to meet with Israeli leaders as world outrage over ballooning Palestinian casualties mounted.

Gaza health officials reported 524 dead and nearly 2,000 wounded since Israel embarked upon its military campaign against Gaza’s Islamic Hamas rulers on Dec. 27. At least 200 civilians were among the dead.

Israeli forces seized sparsely populated areas in northern Gaza and by this morning were dug in on the edges of Gaza City.

Further movement into the heart of the built-up areas would mean deadly urban warfare, with house-to-house fighting, sniper fire and booby traps in crowded streets and alleyways familiar to Hamas’ 20,000 fighters.

Thirteen civilians died in the various attacks across Gaza on this morning, said Gaza health official Dr. Moaiya Hassanain.