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Gaza militants fire rockets into south Israel Israel launches strikes on Gaza after rocket fire
(about 1 hour later)
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have fired about 35 mortar shells and rockets into southern Israel. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have fired about 50 mortar shells and rockets into southern Israel.
The projectiles landed in fields in the Eshkol region and near Kerem Shalom. No injuries were reported.The projectiles landed in fields in the Eshkol region and near Kerem Shalom. No injuries were reported.
The military wings of Hamas, which governs Gaza, and Islamic Jihad said the rockets were fired in response to an Israeli air strike on Sunday. Israel responded by launching strikes on several targets in Gaza. Palestinian medics said five people were wounded.
Five civilians and two militants were injured when a missile hit a motorbike in the town of Rafah, in southern Gaza. The military wings of Hamas, which governs Gaza, and Islamic Jihad said the rockets were fired in retaliation for an Israeli air strike on Sunday.
Eight civilians were injured when a missile hit a motorbike ridden by two militants as it travelled through the southern town of Rafah. The militants were seriously hurt.
The Israeli military said it had targeted two members of "global jihadist" groups which were suspected of involvement in a cross-border attack from Egypt in June that left one Israeli dead.The Israeli military said it had targeted two members of "global jihadist" groups which were suspected of involvement in a cross-border attack from Egypt in June that left one Israeli dead.
'Zionist crimes''Zionist crimes'
Shrapnel from the mortars and rockets fired into southern Israel on Monday caused some damage to at least one building in Eshkol.Shrapnel from the mortars and rockets fired into southern Israel on Monday caused some damage to at least one building in Eshkol.
Afterwards, the local authorities asked residents to stay close to shelters.Afterwards, the local authorities asked residents to stay close to shelters.
Hamas's military wing, the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades, and that of Islamic Jihad, the al-Quds Brigades, announced that the rocket fire was a response to "Zionist crimes".Hamas's military wing, the Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades, and that of Islamic Jihad, the al-Quds Brigades, announced that the rocket fire was a response to "Zionist crimes".
"In response to the injury of civilians in the most recent strike on Rafah, the Qassam Brigades and the al-Quds Brigades fired a number of rockets at enemy military positions," a statement said. "In response to the injury of civilians in the most recent strike on Rafah, the Qassam Brigades and the al-Quds Brigades fired a number of rockets at enemy military positions," href="http://www.qassam.ps/news-6196-Abu_Obeida_Aggression_will_bring_a_stronger_response.html" >a Hamas statement said.
Hamas has not acknowledged launching rockets at Israel since June. The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza City says it is unusual for Hamas to acknowledge involvement in attacks against Israel.
Later, a spokesman for the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza told the AFP news agency that an Israeli tank shell had landed east of Khan Younis, injuring three people, one of them seriously. In the past it has tried to reign in rocket fire from smaller groups.
But Hamas is under pressure to be seen to be resisting Israel's occupation from those in Gaza who believe the Islamist movement has compromised too much, our correspondent adds.
Later, Palestinian medical sources in Gaza told the BBC that an Israeli shell had landed east of Khan Younis, injuring five people, among them several children.
Hospital officials told the Reuters news agency that one of those hurt was an Islamic Jihad militant thought to have been behind the rocket fire.Hospital officials told the Reuters news agency that one of those hurt was an Islamic Jihad militant thought to have been behind the rocket fire.
In a statement, the Israeli military said: "In response to this morning's rocket barrage at southern Israeli communities, the [Israel Defence Forces] targeted Hamas terror activity sites and terrorist squads responsible for the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip."
"The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians, and will operate against anyone who uses terror against the State of Israel. The Hamas terror organisation is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip."
More than 470 rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel this year, not including those launched on Monday, the statement added.