WORLD Israel strikes back in Gaza

GAZA CITY: Israeli aircraft began pounding militant sites in the Gaza Strip early yesterday, hours after Palestinian militants fired 10 rockets towards southern Israel, shattering a month-long lull along the volatile border.

In an initial statement, the Israeli military said its warplanes “have started striking terror targets in Gaza”.

Palestinian media reported that several air strikes targeted training sites and outposts affiliated with Hamas, the Islamic militant group controlling Gaza, and other groups.

Gaza health officials said three Palestinian men sustained moderate or serious shrapnel wounds.

Witnesses at Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan

Younis said the three were sitting in an orchard adjacent to one of the militant posts that was hit.

Late on Friday, two barrages of 10 rockets were launched into southern Israel.

There were no reports of casualties.

Israeli police said shrapnel damaged a house in the southern town of Sderot and video footage showed a car near the structure with windows blown out by debris.

The Israeli military said seven rockets were fired in the first incident and the Iron Dome missile defence system intercepted them.

Minutes later, three rockets were launched and only one was intercepted.

No Palestinian groups claimed responsibility. Israel blames Gaza’s Hamas rulers for any fire from the enclave.

The Islamic militant group says it’s committed to an unofficial truce deal, but rogue groups that include Iranianbacked Islamic Jihad and smaller Salafist factions sometimes act independently.

Earlier on Friday, Gaza’s health officials said scores of

Palestinians were wounded by live fire during protests along the Gaza-Israel border fence. Hamas launched the weekly demonstrations last year against the 12-year-old IsraeliEgyptian blockade.

International mediators oversee the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel to lower the intensity of the protests and pacify the border area.