Israel will push forward with its offensive in the Gaza Strip until Palestinian militants release a captured Israeli soldier and halt their rocket attacks, top officials said Sunday, rejecting international criticism that the army has used excessive force during a nearly two-week operation in the coastal area. The officials spoke a day after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected a call by the Palestinian prime minister for a cease-fire. The offensive, launched in response to the soldier’s capture, has caused widespread destruction in Gaza and left more than 40 Palestinians dead. Full Story