Cairo, Nov 17 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi Friday warned Israel against the continuation of its military operation in Gaza, saying it will have to pay "a heavy price".

"Gaza will not remain alone as it was," he tweeted on his Twitter page, according to the al-Masry al-Yaoum newspaper, adding that that the aggressors "know they will pay a heavy price if they continue their aggression."

Morsi warned Israel about the consequences of its strikes in Gaza: "I don't want to take unusual steps, but if I see that the homeland is in danger, I won't hesitate."

"The blood spilled over there will not get the other side peace and will serve as a curse on them. It will incite all the people of the region against them."

Israel launched its attack on the Palestinian enclave of 1.7 million Wednesday, with an airstrike that killed the head of the military wing of the Hamas militant group, Ahmed Jabari. The airstrike came after a reported surge in rocket attacks on Israeli border towns from Gaza, which has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

Palestinian medics say eight militants and 14 civilians, including seven children and a pregnant woman, have been killed in the last three days by Israeli bombs. Residents say the closure of many smuggling tunnels between Gaza and Egypt has meant supplies are running low and power cuts are frequent.

In a sign of further escalation, Israel's army has begun the call-up of 16,000 reservists, the military said. Earlier the military announced that it had been authorized to call up as many as 30,000 reservists.

"Egypt doesn't want to fight and constantly calls for peace, but real peace is not just for one side at the expense of another side, so that one side enjoys the good life while the others suffer from attacks and ongoing killing," Morsi said.