Israeli Foreign Minister Heads to Egypt to Discuss Gaza Conflict

Israel's foreign minister has briefed Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the upsurge in violence along the Israel-Gaza border.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met Mr. Mubarak in Cairo Thursday, a day after Hamas militants pounded southern Israel with at least 60 rockets.

Speaking separately at a rally in Cairo, Livni vowed to stop the Hamas attacks, saying "enough is enough."

Egypt helped mediate a six-month-long truce between Hamas and Israel that expired last week. Security has deteriorated rapidly since then.

Israeli defense officials say the military is preparing an operation against Hamas targets in Gaza. Military sources have not said when it would happen, but say it depends partly on weather conditions.

Israel also has raised the alert level for emergency rescue services and connected all towns within 30 kilometers of the Gaza Strip to a warning system.

Hamas says it attacked Israel Wednesday to avenge the killing of three militants by Israeli troops Tuesday. Israeli forces killed another militant Wednesday in response to the attacks.

The latest violence prompted Israel to cancel plans to allow humanitarian aid to pass into the Gaza Strip.

Residents of Gaza have been deprived of many basic goods, including fuel, food and cash, since neighboring Israel and Egypt tightened their borders when Hamas took over the territory last year.

Human rights groups have called the situation a humanitarian crisis