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Israel hits Gaza militants' homes Israelis kill W Bank 'militant'
(30 minutes later)
Israeli airstrikes have hit the homes of several senior Palestinian militants in Gaza, wounding at least one person. Israeli troops in the West Bank say they killed a Palestinian militant.
The strikes follow several Palestinian rocket attacks which killed one Israeli civilian and wounded two others. An Israeli army spokeswoman said troops had spotted an armed gunman in al-Ein camp near Nablus and opened fire.
Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz said Palestinian militants would pay a heavy price for the attacks. Earlier, the Israeli air force also hit the homes of several senior Palestinian militants in Gaza, wounding at least one person.
On Wednesday, a wave of militant rocket fire from Gaza killed an Israeli woman in the Israeli town of Sderot and seriously wounded a man.
Phone warning
As they often do in Gaza, Israeli forces phoned the five houses beforehand to warn of the coming attacks.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said the militants' homes were hit because they were being used to store weapons and to hold "terrorist meetings".An Israeli military spokeswoman said the militants' homes were hit because they were being used to store weapons and to hold "terrorist meetings".
Telephone warning Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz said Palestinian militants would pay a heavy price for the attacks.
The first Israeli helicopters struck the Shathi refugee camp outside Gaza City at just before midnight on Wednesday, hitting the home of a prominent member of the Popular Resistance Committees.The first Israeli helicopters struck the Shathi refugee camp outside Gaza City at just before midnight on Wednesday, hitting the home of a prominent member of the Popular Resistance Committees.
Shortly afterwards, similar attacks hit the homes of senior Hamas militants in the Jabaliya refugee camp and in Rafah.Shortly afterwards, similar attacks hit the homes of senior Hamas militants in the Jabaliya refugee camp and in Rafah.
In each case, the Israelis phoned the homes and warned the occupants.
At least one person was wounded in the first attack, Palestinian officials said.At least one person was wounded in the first attack, Palestinian officials said.
Condemnation
Israel had been promising retaliation for Wednesday's wave of rocket attacks on southern Israel that were launched from Gaza.Israel had been promising retaliation for Wednesday's wave of rocket attacks on southern Israel that were launched from Gaza.
Militants from the armed wing of the governing Hamas movement and Islamic Jihad said they had fired the rockets into the Israeli town of Sderot.Militants from the armed wing of the governing Hamas movement and Islamic Jihad said they had fired the rockets into the Israeli town of Sderot.
The Palestinians said they were retaliating for recent Israeli attacks on Gaza, including an artillery strike on Beit Hanoun last week that killed 19 civilians.The Palestinians said they were retaliating for recent Israeli attacks on Gaza, including an artillery strike on Beit Hanoun last week that killed 19 civilians.
In Geneva, the UN condemned Israel over the deaths, which an Israeli military investigation has blamed on technical failures.In Geneva, the UN condemned Israel over the deaths, which an Israeli military investigation has blamed on technical failures.
In a special session, the UN Human Rights Council voted to send a fact-finding mission to Beit Hanoun.In a special session, the UN Human Rights Council voted to send a fact-finding mission to Beit Hanoun.
'Heavy price''Heavy price'
Israeli police said six rockets fell in and around Sderot, near the Gaza border. At least three rockets were later fired at Ashkelon.Israeli police said six rockets fell in and around Sderot, near the Gaza border. At least three rockets were later fired at Ashkelon.
A 57-year-old woman died and a man in his 20s and a teenager were seriously wounded.A 57-year-old woman died and a man in his 20s and a teenager were seriously wounded.
The Israeli defence minister said Palestinian militants would pay a heavy price.The Israeli defence minister said Palestinian militants would pay a heavy price.
"We will move against those who are involved in the firing of rockets, starting from their leaders and down to the last of their terrorists.""We will move against those who are involved in the firing of rockets, starting from their leaders and down to the last of their terrorists."
Qassam rockets are fired into Israel from Gaza by Palestinian militants on a daily basis.Qassam rockets are fired into Israel from Gaza by Palestinian militants on a daily basis.
They rarely cause death or serious injury, but do cause fear and panic. In all, nine people, all civilians, are thought to have been killed in Israel by Qassam rockets since the first fatalities in June 2004.They rarely cause death or serious injury, but do cause fear and panic. In all, nine people, all civilians, are thought to have been killed in Israel by Qassam rockets since the first fatalities in June 2004.
The last time someone was confirmed to have been killed inside Israel by Palestinian rocket fire was in July 2005.The last time someone was confirmed to have been killed inside Israel by Palestinian rocket fire was in July 2005.
Israel cites the threat from Qassam rockets as the main reason for its military operations in the Gaza Strip.Israel cites the threat from Qassam rockets as the main reason for its military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Almost 400 Palestinians, many of them civilians, have died in such operations since late June 2006.Almost 400 Palestinians, many of them civilians, have died in such operations since late June 2006.
The UN's chief human rights official, Louise Arbour, says she will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories next week to examine the current situation facing civilians. She will hold talks with the authorities on both sides, as well as with human rights groups.The UN's chief human rights official, Louise Arbour, says she will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories next week to examine the current situation facing civilians. She will hold talks with the authorities on both sides, as well as with human rights groups.