Deputy leader of al-Qaida Ayman al-Zawahri, in an audiotape released today, called on Muslims to strike Israeli and American interests in revenge for Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip earlier this month.

The al-Zawahri tape came on the heels of a message from Osama bin Laden calling a holy war to liberate the Palestinian lands, a new push by the terror network's leadership to use widespread anger over the Gaza violence to whip up support.

The authenticity of the 4 minute, 44-second audiotape could not be independently confirmed.

But the voice on it resembled that of al-Zawahri on previous audio and videotapes confirmed to be his. It was posted on an Islamic militant Website where al-Qaida usually releases its statements, and a banner advertising the tape had the logo of al-Qaida's media arm, Al-Sahab.

"Muslims, today is your day. Strike the interests of the Jews, the Americans, and all those who participated in the attack on Muslims," al-Zawahri said.

 He said attacks should not be limited to places in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Israel launched a weeklong offensive in Gaza that ended in early March, seeking to put down Palestinian militants firing rockets against nearby Israeli towns. The Israeli assault killed more than 120 people, including many civilians.

Al-Zawahri also referred to the publishing of a cartoon seen as insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad in Danish papers.

 The cartoons, which were first printed in 2006 and reprinted this month, angered many Muslims.