Israel hits Hamas targets in Gaza
Four killed and dozens hurt in air strikes launched after rockets fired into Israel.
Related links |
The air strikes came after Israel threatened to respond to missiles being fired into Sderot.
At least two Israelis in the town of Sderot were injured by rockets fired by Palestinian groups on Thursday.
Your Views |
“Gaza will collapse into chaos” Todd, Mclean, US |
Miri Eisen, spokeswoman for the Israeli prime minister, told Al Jazeera: “Israel has been under attack for days, for weeks. The Hamas themselves have already openly said that they support terror.
Tanks and armoured vehicles also moved into the Gaza Strip on Thursday in what an Israeli army spokesman described as a “defensive operation”.
David Chater, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Jerusalem, said: “The Israeli prime minister is under great pressure to try and stop these rocket barrages … and Israel has obviously decided to loosen its policy of restraint.
Mustafa al-Barghouti, the Palestinian information minister, said that the air strikes showed that Israel is “no peace partner”.
An injured woman is rescued from the damaged buildings |
At least one Palestinian was killed and 11 injured in factional fighting in Rafah, and Fatah said at least five of its men were also abducted by its rival group.
Three previous ceasefires collapsed within hours since violence first flared on Sunday.
At least 43 people, the vast majority of them Fatah loyalists, have been killed since Sunday. The toll has included two civilians, with more than 100 people wounded.