Israel's Justice Minister Tzipi Livni revealed on Monday that the government is examining possibilities of a "physical separation" from the Gaza Strip through using underground barriers, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The Israeli newspaper stated that Livni - in quotes to Army Radio - stated that such a barrier may be a "primitive one as long as its effective." The Israeli left-wing cabinet member and former foreign minister added that this step will be "worth it" regardless of its large expense.

She referred to "technological means" that are being checked and could be effective as the barrier brackets "may not need to visible from above ground."

On 22 July, Livni said Israel will not halt its offensive against Gaza until it destroys its tunnels. "First of all, it won't happen before we really finish the tunnels project which was laid out as a strategic objective," she told Ynet news website, referring to a major operation that started on the evening of 17 July.

Since the beginning of the Israeli strikes against Gaza, over 1,820 Palestinians have been killed with more than 10,000 injured. On the Israeli side, 64 soldiers have been killed in clashes and shellings in and around the war-torn enclave.

According to an AFP report, Palestinian factions in Gaza fired over 2,560 rockets and mortar shells at Israel. 557 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome defence system.

Israel says it has targeted roughly 4,700 targets across Gaza since the 8 July.

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