Israel launches multiple airstrikes on Gaza, no injuries

Maan News Agency

Published today 09:42

A woman surveys the damage to her house after an Israeli air strike
on a nearby chicken coop in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
November 11, 2012. (Reuters/Ahmed Zakot)

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israel launched multiple airstrikes on the Gaza Strip overnight Sunday, with no injuries reported, Ma'an's correspondent and the Israeli army said.

Fighter jets targeted two open areas in the northern Gaza Strip and a third strike landed in another open area near Rafah, Ma'an's reporter said.

No injuries have been reported.

Israel's army said it targeted "a terror tunnel and a weapon storage facility in the northern Gaza Strip, as well as a launching site in the southern Gaza Strip," in response to rocket fire.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said one rocket had been fired overnight, with no injuries reported.

The latest airstrikes come after a 24 hour period of escalating violence along the Gaza border.

On Saturday, Israel shelled the Gaza Strip killing four civilians and injuring at least 25. Israel's army said it was responding to a missile attack on an Israeli military jeep which injured four soldiers.

Gaza factions fired dozens of rockets into Israel in response to the deaths, with Israel launching an airstrike early Sunday which killed two members of Islamic Jihad's military wing.

Two workers were wounded later when a plastics factory in northern Gaza Strip caught fire after it was hit by an Israeli tank shell, emergency workers said.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said that nearly 70 rockets had been fired into Israel since midnight on Saturday, injuring four Israelis.

Ceasefire efforts

Israeli media reported Sunday that Egypt was mediating ceasefire efforts among Gaza factions, with Egyptian Ambassador to the Palestinian Authority Yasser Othman saying that the country was "making considerable efforts to stop the escalation and establish a lull," Ynet said.

Both Islamic Jihad and the PFLP responded with statements denying that they had agreed to a ceasefire.

The PRC's military wing, the Nasser Saladin Brigades, later released a statement reasserting that a ceasefire had not been reached and that the group would continue with its "retaliation toll" campaign against Israeli forces.

Despite denying that a ceasefire was in place, only one rocket was fired overnight from the Gaza Strip, with no faction claiming responsibility.