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Gaza rockets strike southern Israel Gaza rockets strike southern Israel
(34 minutes later)
Militant groups in the Gaza Strip struck southern Israel with a barrage of rockets on Monday in a significant escalation of tensions in recent days that has also seen multiple Israeli air strikes. Militant groups in the Gaza Strip have struck southern Israel with a barrage of rockets in a significant escalation of tensions in recent days that has also included multiple Israeli air strikes.
By mid-morning on Monday 14 rockets were have reported to have been fired, all except one landing in open areas. One rocket struck a building but no injuries were caused. By mid-morning on Monday 14 rockets were reported to have been fired, all except one landing in open areas. One rocket struck a building but no injuries were caused.
Although groups in Gaza other than Hamas have been largely blamed for launching the rockets, a Palestinian health official, Ashraf al-Kidra, said a man killed by Israeli fire in Gaza on Sunday was a member of Hamas' armed wing. A total of three Palestinians have been killed in air strikes since Friday. Although groups in Gaza other than Hamas have been largely blamed for launching the rockets. A Palestinian health official, Ashraf al-Kidra, said a man killed by Israeli fire in Gaza on Sunday was a member of Hamas' armed wing. Three Palestinians have been killed in air strikes since Friday.
The Israeli military says it is the highest level of rocket fire since Operation Pillar of Defence – an eight day operation by the IDF against Hamas – in 2012. The Israeli military says it is the highest level of rocket fire since Operation Pillar of Defence – an eight-day operation by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) against Hamas – in 2012.
Palestinian groups in Gaza and the Israeli air force have been engaged in daily attack in recent days.Palestinian groups in Gaza and the Israeli air force have been engaged in daily attack in recent days.
The latest rockets followed an strike on Sunday night that killed one Palestinian, reportedly as he was preparing to fire a missile and three others. The previous night had seen 12 Israeli air strikes on Gaza. The latest rockets followed a strike on Sunday night that killed one Palestinian, reportedly as he was preparing to fire a missile, and three others. There were 12 Israeli air strikes on Gaza the previous night.
On Saturday evening one rocket hit a plastics factory in Sderot setting it on fire.On Saturday evening one rocket hit a plastics factory in Sderot setting it on fire.
A day earlier, two militants from the Popular Resistance Committees were killed when a missile hit their car in Gaza City. On Sunday the Israeli prime minister warned that Israel was "ready to expand" its military operation adding that he held "the Palestinian Authority became responsible for preventing firing at our territory from the Gaza Strip". A day earlier, two militants from the Popular Resistance Committees were killed when a missile hit their car in Gaza City.
"We are ready to expand this operation as per need," Netanyahu said , in comments made at the weekly Cabinet meeting. On Sunday the Israeli prime minister warned that Israel was "ready to expand" its military operation, adding that "the Palestinian Authority … responsible for preventing firing at our territory from the Gaza Strip".
"We are ready to expand this operation as per need," Netanyahu said, in comments made at the weekly cabinet meeting.
His comments followed a report in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth suggesting that some armoured units had been warned of a potential operation in Gaza.His comments followed a report in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth suggesting that some armoured units had been warned of a potential operation in Gaza.
On Monday a senior Israeli source said: "We are not interested in an escalation in the south, but if the rocket fire continues we will respond."On Monday a senior Israeli source said: "We are not interested in an escalation in the south, but if the rocket fire continues we will respond."
The region is experiencing a period of growing tension between Israelis and Palestinians following the collapse of US peace talks earlier this year and the formation of a Palestinian unity government backed by Hamas.The region is experiencing a period of growing tension between Israelis and Palestinians following the collapse of US peace talks earlier this year and the formation of a Palestinian unity government backed by Hamas.
Those tensions have been exacerbated in the last three weeks by the disappearance of three Israeli teenagers on the West Bank. The Israeli government insists it was a kidnapping by a Hamas cell in the Hebron, which has seen a massive military operation targeting Hamas on the West Bank. Those tensions have been exacerbated in the past three weeks by the disappearance of three Israeli teenagers on the West Bank. The Israeli government insists it was a kidnapping by a Hamas cell in Hebron, where a massive military operation has been launched targeting Hamas on the West Bank.
That operation has seen almost 400 hundred Palestinians arrested on the West Bank, most of them Hamas members, while five have been killed. Almost 400 Palestinians have been arrested on the West Bank, most of them Hamas members, while five have been killed.