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Israel jets strike northern Gaza Israel jets strike northern Gaza
(about 7 hours later)
Israeli aircraft have attacked the northern Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel.Israeli aircraft have attacked the northern Gaza Strip after Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israel.
The violence follows several days of relative calm in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.The violence follows several days of relative calm in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Israeli air force said it was targeting a rocket-firing team. There is no word on casualties.The Israeli air force said it was targeting a rocket-firing team. There is no word on casualties.
The rocket attacks came several hours after Israeli undercover forces in the West Bank town of Bethlehem shot dead four Palestinian militants. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has condemned Israel's attacks on Palestinian civilians, calling them inappropriate and disproportionate.
Speaking to a summit of Muslim leaders in Senegal, he called for an immediate ceasefire by both sides.
Militant killed
The Palestinian rocket attacks came several hours after Israeli undercover forces in the West Bank town of Bethlehem shot dead four Palestinian militants.
Those killed included a prominent local leader of the Islamic Jihad militant group.Those killed included a prominent local leader of the Islamic Jihad militant group.
What the enemy has done undermines any talk of a ceasefire Dawud Shihab Islamic Jihad
An Israeli army spokesman said the air strikes were a response to the firing of 12 rockets from Gaza into southern Israel.An Israeli army spokesman said the air strikes were a response to the firing of 12 rockets from Gaza into southern Israel.
Two of those rockets, he added, exploded in the town of Sderot, causing damage to a building but no injuries.Two of those rockets, he added, exploded in the town of Sderot, causing damage to a building but no injuries.
"The Israeli air force raid targeted a rocket launcher that was ready to fire in the Beit Hanoun area in the northern Gaza Strip," he told reporters."The Israeli air force raid targeted a rocket launcher that was ready to fire in the Beit Hanoun area in the northern Gaza Strip," he told reporters.
Islamic Jihad said it had fired 15 rockets and 10 mortars.Islamic Jihad said it had fired 15 rockets and 10 mortars.
'Ceasefire undermined''Ceasefire undermined'
In Bethlehem, witnesses said a team of Israeli commandos disguised as Palestinians and driving a car with Palestinian number plates had sprayed a car with bullets.In Bethlehem, witnesses said a team of Israeli commandos disguised as Palestinians and driving a car with Palestinian number plates had sprayed a car with bullets.
The raid came during efforts to broker a truce in GazaThose killed included Muhammad Shahada, 48, a senior leader of Islamic Jihad, and Ahmed al-Balbul, also 48, a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Two other members of the Islamic Jihad group also died. Those killed included Muhammad Shahada, 48, a senior leader of Islamic Jihad, and Ahmed al-Balbul, also 48, a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Two other members of the Islamic Jihad group also died.
Israeli officials confirmed the raid, saying that they had intended to make arrests but opened fire when they saw that three of the militants were armed with assault rifles. Israeli officials confirmed the raid, saying they had intended to make arrests but opened fire when they saw that three of the militants were armed with assault rifles.
Palestinian officials from Islamic Jihad and Hamas denounced the operation. The raid came during efforts to broker a truce in GazaPalestinian officials from Islamic Jihad and Hamas denounced the operation.
"Islamic Jihad and the other resistance groups have the right to respond in any place to this crime of assassination and all options are open," said Dawud Shihab, an Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza."Islamic Jihad and the other resistance groups have the right to respond in any place to this crime of assassination and all options are open," said Dawud Shihab, an Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza.
"What the enemy has done undermines any talk of a ceasefire," he said. "What the enemy has done undermines any talk of a ceasefire."
There had been a lull in the violence in Gaza over the last few days, with the Israeli military reducing operations on Monday, following a sharp drop in rocket fire from Palestinian militants.There had been a lull in the violence in Gaza over the last few days, with the Israeli military reducing operations on Monday, following a sharp drop in rocket fire from Palestinian militants.
Egypt has been working to broker an agreement between the two sides.Egypt has been working to broker an agreement between the two sides.
On Wednesday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas set out its conditions for a truce, calling for an end to Israeli military operations in Gaza and the re-opening of its borders, in return for halting rocket attacks.On Wednesday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas set out its conditions for a truce, calling for an end to Israeli military operations in Gaza and the re-opening of its borders, in return for halting rocket attacks.