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Israel warns of tough Gaza action | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has warned that Israel will step up its offensive against Gaza if Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel do not stop. | |
Mr Olmert said Hamas militants would pay a heavy price for continuing rocket strikes on the Israeli town of Sderot. | |
Earlier, Israeli forces launched a number of air raids on suspected militants and weapons factories in Gaza, killing at least three people. | |
It comes as a truce between Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas appears to hold. | |
Hamas people are paying, and will pay, a very heavy personal price for these attacks on the residents of Sderot and nearby communities Ehud Olmert Terror in Gaza and Israel Gaza militants have fired more than 50 rockets into Israel over the past week, wounding seven civilians and forcing hundreds to flee. Warning sirens have been wailing several times a day in the town of Sderot. | |
"If the measured steps we are taking, in the political and military sphere, do not bring about the desired calm, we will be forced to intensify our response," Mr Olmert said at a meeting of the Israeli cabinet. | |
More than 20 people have died in Israeli air strikes on Gaza in the last five days, which were resumed after a six month lull. | |
"Hamas people are paying, and will pay, a very heavy personal price for these attacks on the residents of Sderot and nearby communities," Mr Olmert said. | |
In Gaza City three people, at least two of them Hamas fighters, died when their car was struck, Israeli army officials said. | |
The Israeli military said the large size of the explosion indicated the car had been carrying weapons. | |
Palestinian medical officials said four people were killed in the raids, three of them civilians. | Palestinian medical officials said four people were killed in the raids, three of them civilians. |
Missiles also destroyed two buildings elsewhere in Gaza, which Israel said were being used as bomb workshops. | Missiles also destroyed two buildings elsewhere in Gaza, which Israel said were being used as bomb workshops. |
There were no reports of injuries in those attacks. | There were no reports of injuries in those attacks. |
Israel pulled troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005 after a 38-year occupation. | |
Ceasefire relief | Ceasefire relief |
The Israeli air strikes came as Hamas and rival Palestinian militia group Fatah observed another ceasefire in an effort to curb bloody factional infighting in Gaza. | |
A series of truces has failed to stop Gaza's violenceThe truce which came into effect on Saturday afternoon is the fifth such pact since violence broke out last Sunday. Since then about 50 people have died in clashes between the two groups. | |
A Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, told the Associated Press news agency he expected the Israeli action to strengthen the latest ceasefire between Hamas and Fatah. | A Hamas spokesman, Fawzi Barhoum, told the Associated Press news agency he expected the Israeli action to strengthen the latest ceasefire between Hamas and Fatah. |
"No-one would accept to fight one another while the Israelis are shelling Gaza," he said. | "No-one would accept to fight one another while the Israelis are shelling Gaza," he said. |
Gunmen climbed down from rooftop positions and dismantled roadblocks as the ceasefire began to take effect on Saturday. | Gunmen climbed down from rooftop positions and dismantled roadblocks as the ceasefire began to take effect on Saturday. |
Relieved residents who had been barricaded for days amid the street fighting took the opportunity to stock up on groceries and other necessities. | Relieved residents who had been barricaded for days amid the street fighting took the opportunity to stock up on groceries and other necessities. |