Israeli-Palestinian violence flares up around Gaza border

 

Xinhua, February 24, 2011

Israeli army carried out several strikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, killing a Palestinian militant and wounding several others, promoting rocket attacks on southern Israel.

The violence began around noon, when the Israeli forces entered eastern Gaza City and clashed with Palestinian militants, according to witnesses and security sources.

A militant from the Islamic Jihad movement died Wednesday evening due to severe wounds sustained when the invading forces fired at least one shell towards the militants in the early afternoon, the movement's armed wing announced. Eleven other Palestinians were injured in the shelling.

After the announcement of the death, Palestinian militants fired two Grad rockets on Western Negev, Israel Radio said.

One of the rockets landed in Be'er Sheva, causing damage to a house, an Israeli army spokesman told the radio. The other missile landed in an open space.

Earlier in the day, three home-made rockets were fired on Israel and caused no damage or casualties.

In the latest round of violence, Israeli aircrafts struck at gunmen from the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad in southeast Gaza City, wounding two of them, witnesses and security sources said. The two were evacuated to hospital, where doctors said their injuries were moderate.

More Israeli airstrikes are expected Wednesday night in response to the Palestinian rocket attacks.

Gaza's Hamas rulers, who took over Gaza by force in 2007, have tried to maintain ceasefire with Israel, urging Palestinian groups to refrain from firing rockets into Israel.