Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday morning that the ground incursion of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip was "unavoidable," local daily The Jerusalem Post reported on its website.

Olmert was quoted as saying that the Israeli government "did everything possible before it decided on the ground incursion. It was unavoidable."

"It is inconceivable that in a responsible and determined country, the home front would be a target for attacks" without its "powerful, daring and skilled army protecting it," the prime minister said at the beginning of Sunday's cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv.

Turning to families of IDF soldiers, Olmert said that he had dedicated much thought to them since the Operation Cast Lead began on December 27, and "more so since the decision on the ground incursion was made."

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that though it was bound to be difficult, Operation Cast Lead "will be extended and intensified as necessary."

"War is full of surprises and difficult challenges but our best fighters are leading the operation," he told the cabinet meeting.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli cabinet was expected to hear both security and diplomatic briefings regarding the operation, as Saturday night's ground incursion dramatically overshadowed the diplomatic effort that had focused on putting some kind of international monitoring mechanism into Gaza after the fighting stops.

The cabinet meeting was held at the Defense Ministry compound in Tel Aviv to enable the defense establishment's top brass, which is directing the campaign, to brief the ministers.