Israel's military is ready for a "significant expansion" of the Gaza ground offensive that has already claimed at least 24 lives.
The offensive began on Thursday night with the aim of destroying the weapons arsenal, infrastructure and underground tunnels used by Hamas, Israeli officials claimed.
An Israeli soldier and at least 23 Palestinians have already been killed in the operation, according to Palestinian officials.
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned: "My instructions are to prepare for the possibility of significantly widening the ground operation, and the military is preparing accordingly."
Smoke billows in Gaza after an air strike on Friday Mr Netanyahu said a ground assault was the only way to infiltrate Hamas' underground network.
On Friday lunchtime the Israeli Defence Forces reported they had "engaged and killed 17 terrorists".
Their tweet continued: "13 other terrorists surrendered to us and were taken for questioning.
"We have also targeted 21 rocket launchers & 4 tunnels. Our forces are continuing to operate with precision in order to achieve their goals."
Israel confirmed 20-year-old Sgt Eitan Barak had been "killed fighting Hamas terrorists". The country's media is investigating the possibility he was a victim of so-called friendly fire.
Sgt Eitan Barak, killed in fighting overnight. Pic: Israeli Defence Force Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called the ground offensive "foolish", adding that Israel would suffer "dreadful consequences".
Four members of one family in Khan Younis were among the dead, emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said.
Gaza health officials said the 23 killed in the operation included a three-month-old boy who died after a shell hit his family's Bedouin tent in southern Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel claimed 50 rockets were fired from Gaza overnight - 25 slamming into its territory.
Those injured in explosions and fighting are arriving at hospitals in Gaza Israeli tanks and troops moved into Gaza following a 10-day campaign of more than 2,000 airstrikes that had failed to halt Hamas rocket fire on Israeli cities.
It is the first major Israeli ground offensive in Gaza in just over five years.
The army has confirmed that a draft of 18,000 more reserve soldiers has been authorised by the government.
Mr Netanyahu's chief spokesman Mark Regev told Sky News the decision to launch the offensive had not been taken "lightly" but that action needed to be taken to "protect our citizens".
An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires towards the Gaza Strip He said the chance of a truce is now very unlikely "because Hamas rejected the ceasefire proposal supported by Egypt".
Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal told the AFP news agency that the operation was destined to fail.
"What the occupier Israel failed to achieve through its air and sea raids, it will not be able to achieve with a ground offensive. It is bound to fail," Mr Meshaal said from his exile in Doha.
The ground campaign followed a brief truce on Thursday in which Israel held fire to allow Gazans to stock up on food and other necessities.
Israel's anti-missile defence system in action on Friday Some 264 Palestinians have been killed since fighting began 11 days ago, with another 2,000 injured, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
Figures provided by the Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights show that civilians account for more than 80% of the victims of Israel's assault since July 8.
Israel has confirmed two of its citizens have died.
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