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Scores die in Israeli air strikes Scores die in Israeli air strikes
(30 minutes later)
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. Israeli F-16 bombers have launched a series of air strikes against key targets in the Gaza Strip, killing and injuring scores of people.
Missiles destroyed security compounds run by the militant group Hamas in the centre of Gaza City, killing at least 120 people, Hamas officials said. Medical staff and Hamas officials said at least 140 people were killed when missiles hit security compounds and militant bases across Gaza.
The strikes, the most intense Israeli attacks on Gaza in recent times, come after the expiry of a truce with Hamas.The strikes, the most intense Israeli attacks on Gaza in recent times, come after the expiry of a truce with Hamas.
Israel had threatened an offensive to stop the firing of rockets from Gaza. Israel said it was responding to continued rocket attacks from Gaza.
Israel confirmed the strikes, saying they were launched in response to continued rocket fire by Palestinian militants against Israeli towns. Palestinian militants frequently fire rockets against Israeli towns from within the borders of Gaza.
They targeted "Hamas terror operatives" as well as training camps and weaponry storage warehouses, the country's military said in a statement. In a statement, Israel's military said it targeted "Hamas terror operatives" as well as training camps and weaponry storage warehouses.
Hamas quickly vowed to carry out revenge attacks on Israel in response to the air strikes.
In the West Bank, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas - whose Fatah faction was ousted from Gaza by Hamas in 2007 - condemned the attacks and called for restraint.In the West Bank, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas - whose Fatah faction was ousted from Gaza by Hamas in 2007 - condemned the attacks and called for restraint.
Offensive planned? But Hamas quickly vowed to carry out revenge attacks on Israel in response to the air strikes, firing Qassam rockets into Israeli territory as an immediate reply.
"Hamas will continue the resistance until the last drop of blood," spokesman Fawzi Barhoum was reported as saying.
Israel also stood firm, saying operations "will continue, will be expanded, and will deepen if necessary".
Rising toll
Reports of the casualties in Gaza mounted swiftly after news broke of the Israeli operation.Reports of the casualties in Gaza mounted swiftly after news broke of the Israeli operation.
Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, initially said at least 40 people had been killed when a missile hit security headquarters in and around Gaza City.Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza, initially said at least 40 people had been killed when a missile hit security headquarters in and around Gaza City.
That figure quickly rose, Hamas saying 120 were killed and some 400 people injured, the BBC Katya Adler reports from Jerusalem. That figure quickly rose until both Hamas and Palestinian doctors said at least 140 were killed and some 400 people injured.
Medics in Gaza also reported high casualties, saying 120 people died in Gaza City and 23 in the southern city of Khan Younis, Reuters news agency said. Egypt opened its border crossing to the Gaza Strip at Rafah to absorb and treat some of those injured in the south of the territory.
"Most security headquarters in Gaza were completely destroyed in the Zionist shelling," the Hamas-run al-Aqsa TV station said. Most of the dead and injured were said to be in Gaza City, where Hamas's main security compound was destroyed.
The air strikes are the most intense Israel has launched against Gaza for some time, and come amid rumours that that a ground operation is imminent. But casualties were also reported around Gaza, including in the southern town of Khan Younis, where Reuters news agency said at least 20 people were thought to have died.
Hamas said all of its security compounds in Gaza were destroyed by the Israeli air strikes, which Israel said hit some 40 targets across the territory.
The air strikes are the most intense Israel has launched against Gaza for some time, and come amid rumours that a ground operation is imminent.
Israeli security officials have been briefing about the possibility of a new offensive into Gaza for some days now, says the BBC's Paul Wood, in Jerusalem.Israeli security officials have been briefing about the possibility of a new offensive into Gaza for some days now, says the BBC's Paul Wood, in Jerusalem.
But most reports centred on the possibility of a ground offensive, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was not expected to authorise any operation until Sunday at the earliest.But most reports centred on the possibility of a ground offensive, and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was not expected to authorise any operation until Sunday at the earliest.
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