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Gaza militants fire rockets into Israel after raids Israel strikes Gaza after Palestinian rockets in Ashdod
(about 6 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. An Israeli air strike on Gaza on Friday night killed at least two Palestinians as Israel responded to Palestinian rockets which injured several people in the Israeli town of Ashdod.
The missile was one of 12 fired at southern Israeli towns on Friday. Palestinian militants in Gaza fired 12 rockets at southern Israel 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. Israel has launched a series of air strikes on 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. At least nine Palestinians have now been killed since the violence flared.
One of those hurt in Ashdod was seriously injured, Israeli officials said.
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.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.
Reporting on the rocket attacks, Israeli media said rockets were fired at Ashkelon, Beersheva, Kiryat Gat and Ashdod on Friday morning.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.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.
Vehicles attackedVehicles attacked
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.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.
Hamas said two children had also been killed.Hamas said two children had also been killed.
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 air 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.
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.
Six civilians and two security personnel were killed, said Israel, while seven Palestinian gunmen were killed in gun battles with the military.Six civilians and two security personnel were killed, said Israel, while seven Palestinian gunmen were killed in gun battles with the military.
The PRC and Hamas, which governs Gaza, have denied responsibility.The PRC and Hamas, which governs Gaza, have denied responsibility.
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.
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 said it would retaliate if Israel attacked.Hamas said it would retaliate if Israel attacked.
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.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."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".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.