30 Gaza rockets hit Israel

A barrage of rockets from Gaza hit Israel during the night, the army said Saturday, hours after five Palestinians were killed during clashes on the Israeli border, in a flareup that could jeopardise truce efforts.

The largest projectile attacks in months and the border fatalities came despite talk of progress towards an Egyptian-brokered deal to end months of often violent protests along the border.

“Overnight, dozens of rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip at communities in southern Israel,” the army said in a statement, putting the exact number in a separate announcement at 30.

“The IDF’s Iron Dome aerial defense system intercepted approximately 10 projectiles,” the army said, adding that two rockets fell within the Gaza Strip while the others landed in “open areas”.

Israeli medics said seven civilians were being treated for shock.

In response to the rockets, Israeli fighter jets, helicopters and drones struck “approximately 80 Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip”.

There were no reports of Gaza casualties as a result of the strikes.

Hamas, the militant Islamist rulers of Gaza, did not claim responsibility for the rockets, but Israel holds it responsible for any launches from the coastal enclave.

“The rocket fire is conducted in a terror-filled atmosphere which is generated by Hamas in the area of the security fence and in acts such as tonight’s events,” the army said.

Islamic Jihad, the second largest militant group in Gaza, hailed the rocket fire in a statement as a response to “Israeli aggressions”, stopping short however of directly claiming responsibility for the launches.

A Hamas official said that following the escalation Egypt was again seeking to negotiate a return to calm.

(AFP)