Israeli soldier Ben Kubany, 20, was killed during an anti-terror military operation in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. At least one terrorist was also killed in the intense exchange of fire between Israeli troops and Palestinian gunmen.

In an interview with Army Radio several hours later, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said that the operation highlighted the need for broader sustained military activity against Gaza's well-entrenched terrorist infrastructure.

Dichter warned that Hamas and its allied terror groups based in Gaza have taken possession of at least 200 tons of high grade explosives, as well as other advanced weapons, since Israeli withdrew from the coastal strip in 2005.

Dichter is one of many Israeli security experts calling for a large-scale invasion of Gaza in order to crush a Hamas terrorist militia now rumored to number over 20,000.