GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israel will not let up in its strikes against Hamas and militants firing rockets on Israeli border towns should be "very afraid," Israel's defense minister warned Saturday, but he also said the time is not right for a major ground offensive in Gaza.

The Hamas rocket barrage on Israeli border towns came during a week of deadly clashes between the Islamic militant group and the Fatah movement of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. A series of Israeli air strikes has driven Hamas fighters out of their bases.

Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz insisted Israel is not interfering in the internal fighting. However, he also said that "we certainly would like the moderate forces to emerge with the upper hand," a reference to Fatah.

Shortly after Peretz spoke on Israel Radio, an Israeli aircraft fired missiles toward a rocket squad near the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, the army said. Hospital officials said two Palestinians were killed and four wounded in the strike.