Ahmadinejad: Israeli raids change everything

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip is the harbinger of major developments in the region.

As the Israeli army continues to pound the beleaguered strip for a fourth day on Tuesday, there appears to be no active diplomacy on the issue and no halt to the military campaign -- the largest assault on Gaza in decades.

President Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that the fierce Israeli air assault on Gaza, which "aims to root out Hamas and the Palestinians", would only lead to the "disintegration of the Israeli regime".

"Committing genocide against innocent people will only lead to the gradual disintegration of the regime," said the Iranian president in his address to the country's Majlis (parliament).

Israel has rejected calls for an immediate cease-fire. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the four-day bombardment of Gaza "the first of several stages", suggesting that the conflict is far from over.

The number of Palestinian deaths rose to 385 on Tuesday, while hospitals struggle to keep up with the massive number of those injured and the lack of medical supplies.

Israel says through its military campaign, it seeks to topple the Hamas movement, which took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 after winning the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections in January 2006.

"After this operation there will not be a single Hamas building left standing in Gaza, and we plan to change the rules of the game," armed forces deputy chief of staff Brigadier General Dan Harel was quoted by Ynet as saying

"We are hitting not only terrorists and launchers, but also the whole Hamas government and all its wings," Harel added.

Meanwhile, an unnamed Israeli Foreign Ministry official told Jerusalem Post that destroying the Hamas movement was not on the table.

"We are not saying that the aim is to topple Hamas," the source said. "And those who say that is the aim are talking nonsense."

In retaliation to the attacks on Gaza, Hamas has launched rocket strikes on Israel. Six Israelis have died since Saturday, while sixteen others have been reported wounded.

Despite international calls for Israel to halt the bloodshed in Gaza, Israel is reportedly preparing to launch a ground assault into the region.

A senior Iranian commander floated the idea on Monday that the time has come for Muslims to militarily stop Israeli crimes in Gaza.

"Only the military option can save Gaza," said Brigadier General Mir-Faisal Baqerzadeh, Head of the Foundation for the Remembrance of the Holy Defense.

President Ahmadinejad has condemned the Israeli operation and has called on the United Nations Security Council to put an end to the violence in Gaza.