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'Israeli air strikes' target Gaza Israeli air strikes target Gaza
(20 minutes later)
Residents in the Gaza Strip say Israeli F-16 bombers have launched a series of air strikes into the territory. Palestinians say Israeli F-16 bombers have launched a series of air strikes against key targets in the Gaza Strip, killing and injuring dozens of people.
Multiple explosions sounded in several places in and around Gaza City, they said. Early reports spoke of dozens of people injured and several killed. Missiles hit security compounds run by the militant group Hamas in the centre of Gaza City, killing at least 40 people, Hamas officials said.
Palestinian sources say Israeli missiles targeted security compounds in the heart of Gaza City belonging to the militant group Hamas. The strikes, the most intense Israeli attacks on Gaza in recent times, come after the expiry of a truce with Hamas.
A truce between Israel and Palestinian militants expired last week. Israel has threatened an offensive to stop the firing of rockets from Gaza.
There was no immediate word on the explosions from the Israeli military.There was no immediate word on the explosions from the Israeli military.
Offensive planned?Offensive planned?
Early casualty reports suggested the death toll from the air strikes would be high: medics in Gaza told the AFP news agency that 18 people had been killed. Early casualty reports suggested the death toll from the air strikes would be high.
Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, said at least 40 people had been killed when a missile hit security headquarters in and around Gaza City.
"Most security headquarters in Gaza were completely destroyed in the Zionist shelling," the Hamas-run al-Aqsa TV station said.
Unconfirmed reports from local journalists in Gaza said as many as 200 people may have been injured, says the BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem, although there is no way to verify this figure immediately.Unconfirmed reports from local journalists in Gaza said as many as 200 people may have been injured, says the BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem, although there is no way to verify this figure immediately.
Our correspondent says the air strikes are the most intense Israel has launched against Gaza for some time, and may indicate that a ground operation is imminent.Our correspondent says the air strikes are the most intense Israel has launched against Gaza for some time, and may indicate that a ground operation is imminent.
Israeli security officials have been briefing about the possibility of a ground offensive into Gaza for some days now.Israeli security officials have been briefing about the possibility of a ground offensive into Gaza for some days now.
They have suggested that a new operation could be launched against Palestinian militants who fire rockets at targets inside Israel.They have suggested that a new operation could be launched against Palestinian militants who fire rockets at targets inside Israel.
But it had been expected that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would not authorise any operation until Sunday at the earliest.But it had been expected that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would not authorise any operation until Sunday at the earliest.