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Gaza militants fire rockets into Israel after raids Gaza militants fire rockets into Israel after raids
(about 7 hours later)
One person has been seriously injured and others hurt in the Israeli town of Ashdod by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, Israeli officials say.One person has been seriously injured and others hurt in the Israeli town of Ashdod by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, Israeli officials say.
The missile was one of 12 fired at southern Israeli towns on Friday.The missile was one of 12 fired at southern Israeli towns on Friday.
The attacks came after Israel carried out air strikes in Gaza, targeting those it blamed for an attack on Thursday in which eight Israelis died.The attacks came after Israel carried out air strikes in Gaza, targeting those it blamed for an attack on Thursday in which eight Israelis died.
Palestinians say at least seven people were killed in the Israeli raids, including a senior militant leader.Palestinians say at least seven people were killed in the Israeli raids, including a senior militant leader.
Israeli reports said rockets were fired at Ashkelon, Beersheva, Kiryat Gat and Ashdod on Friday morning. Meanwhile Egypt has formally complained to Israel over the deaths of five of its policemen who Cairo says were caught up in Thursday's shooting.
Most of the missiles landed in open ground, causing no damage or injuries, but one landed in the grounds of a religious seminary, or yeshiva, seriously wounding one person. Reporting on the rocket attacks, Israeli media said rockets were fired at Ashkelon, Beersheva, Kiryat Gat and Ashdod on Friday morning.
Most landed in open ground, causing no damage or injuries, but one landed in the grounds of a religious seminary, or yeshiva, seriously wounding one person.
Another hit an industrial park on the outskirts of Ashdod, injuring six, Haaretz newspaper reported, while the rocket aimed at Ashkelon was shot down by Israel's new Iron Dome missile defence system.Another hit an industrial park on the outskirts of Ashdod, injuring six, Haaretz newspaper reported, while the rocket aimed at Ashkelon was shot down by Israel's new Iron Dome missile defence system.
Bus attacked Vehicles attacked
Palestinian sources told the BBC that four members of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) - which is loyal to Hamas but sometimes operates separately - were killed in the Israeli strikes overnight, including the group's head, Kamal al-Nairab. Palestinian sources told the BBC that five members of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) - which is loyal to Hamas but sometimes operates separately - were killed in the Israeli strikes overnight, including the group's head, Kamal al-Nairab, and military chief Immad Hammad.
PRC military chief Immad Hammad and the son of the owner of the house they were in were also among those killed, Palestinian sources and residents said. Hamas said two children had been killed. Hamas said two children had also been killed.
Further air strikes took place in the early hours of Friday morning. Further air strikes took place on Friday - medical workers told the AFP news agency one person had been killed.
Israel said it carried out the strikes in response to attacks near Eilat on Thursday, when at least eight Israelis were killed by gunmen who opened fire on a bus. Israel said it carried out the strikes in response to a series of attacks near Eilat on Thursday in which gunmen opened fire on several vehicles and detonated a bomb on one bus.
Israeli officials said at least two other vehicles were then hit nearby - one by a rocket and one by an explosive device. Six civilians and two security personnel were killed, said Israel, while seven Palestinian gunmen were killed in gun battles with the military.
A number of gunmen were killed in an ensuing firefight. An Israeli official said gunfire on either side of the border continued into the evening. The PRC and Hamas, which governs Gaza, have denied responsibility.
The PRC has denied involvement in the attacks in Israel, Reuters reported.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the overnight air strikes had killed those responsible.But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the overnight air strikes had killed those responsible.
"The people who gave the order to murder our people and hid in Gaza are no longer among the living," he said in a televised address.
"If anyone thinks the state of Israel will resign itself to this, they are wrong."
A spokesman for Israel's domestic security agency, Shin Bet, said several of those who died in the air strikes had been involved in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.A spokesman for Israel's domestic security agency, Shin Bet, said several of those who died in the air strikes had been involved in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Hamas-run Al-Aqsa television reported that security forces in Gaza had evacuated their headquarters in anticipation of Israeli military action. Hamas said it would retaliate if Israel attacked.
In response, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said: "The real source of the terror is in Gaza and we will act against them with full force and determination."
Hamas, which governs Gaza, denied responsibility, and said it would retaliate if Israel attacked.
"We will not stand handcuffed and we will spearhead resistance to the occupation," Hamas official Salah Al-Bardaweel was quoted as saying.
The US, the EU and the UN have all condemned the Eilat attacks, while a UN spokesman said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "concerned at the risk of escalation and calls for all to act with restraint".
Desert securityDesert security
On Friday, Egypt filed a formal complaint to Israel over the deaths of five of its policemen close to the border. Three were killed by gunfire on Thursday and two died of their wounds on Friday, said officials.
"Egypt has demanded an urgent probe into the circumstances of the deaths and injuries of Egyptian forces' members inside our borders," the Mena news agency quoted a military official as saying.
The US, the EU and the UN have all condemned the Eilat attacks, while a UN spokesman said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "concerned at the risk of escalation and calls for all to act with restraint".
Israeli officials said the men who attacked the vehicles near Eilat came from the Gaza Strip and had entered Israel through Egypt's Sinai desert.Israeli officials said the men who attacked the vehicles near Eilat came from the Gaza Strip and had entered Israel through Egypt's Sinai desert.
BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen, in Jerusalem, says the desert region has become increasingly lawless since the Egyptian revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, with a rise in al-Qaeda inspired militant activity. BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen, in Jerusalem, says the desert region has become increasingly lawless since the Egyptian revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, with a rise in al-Qaeda-inspired militant activity.
However, given the substantial distance between the Sinai desert and Gaza, it is unclear why Israel is so certain the attackers were Gazans, says our correspondent.However, given the substantial distance between the Sinai desert and Gaza, it is unclear why Israel is so certain the attackers were Gazans, says our correspondent.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the violence "only underscores our strong concerns about the security situation in the Sinai Peninsula".
"Recent commitments by the Egyptian government to address the security situation in the Sinai are important and we urge the Egyptian government to find a lasting resolution," she said.
Late on Thursday, Egyptian officials said at least two Egyptians were killed near the border in northern Sinai.
Details of the deaths were unclear, though there were reports that gunmen had attacked a police post.