<span style="color: #222222;">Israel is preparing ground troops along the Gaza border today while Hamas launched rocket barrages at southern Israel as one of the fiercest hostilities in years.<br />'' <br />'' In all, 67 people have been killed in Gaza since violence escalated on Monday, according to the enclave's Health Ministry. Seven people have been killed in Israel, its military said.<br />'' <br />'' Israel has prepared combat troops along the Gaza border and was in various stages of preparing ground operations, a military spokesman said. The move would recall similar incursions during Israel-Gaza wars in 2014 and 2008-2009.<br />'' <br />'' Amid fears the violence could spiral further out of control, Washington planned to send an envoy Hady Amr for talks with Israel and Palestinians.<br />'' <br />'' Meanwhile, United States President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and later expressed hope that this conflict will be closing down sooner than later, but Israel has a right to defend itself.<br />'' <br />''<br />''Netanyahu's office said, he told the U.S. President that Israel would continue to strike at the military capabilities of Hamas and the other terrorist groups active in the Gaza Strip.</span><br />