This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18503549#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Israeli air strike 'kills two Gaza militants' Hamas fires barrage of rockets into Israel
(about 6 hours later)
Two Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, Palestinian medics say, in an air strike which Israel says targeted militants planting an explosive. Hamas militants in Gaza have fired at least 10 rockets into southern Israel following air strikes against the Palestinian territory.
The attack took place near the town of Deir el-Balah, near the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials said. The barrage follows months of relative restraint by Hamas, which has been observing a fragile truce.
The reported deaths followed a volley of rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. Israeli officials say no-one was hurt by the rockets but communities near the Gaza border are on heightened alert.
Violence has flared along the Israel-Gaza border in recent days with four suspected Palestinians militants killed in air strikes on Monday. Meanwhile, a shadowy militant group said it had carried out an attack on the Israel-Egypt border on Monday.
"Two citizens were killed in an Israeli air strike," the Palestinian medical official said, according to AFP news agency. In a video, the Mujahideen Shura Council of Jerusalem identified the attackers as an Egyptian and a Saudi. Both were killed in clashes with Israeli forces after setting off an explosion in which an Israeli working on a border security fence died.
"The bodies were only recovered this [Tuesday] morning when an ambulance could get to the scene." Tuesday's rocket attacks followed an Israeli air strike near Deir el-Balah in Gaza that killed two Palestinians.
The strike is reported to have taken place shortly after midnight (21:00GMT). Medical officials in Gaza quoted by AFP said the two were both 17-year-olds.
According to Palestinian medical officials quoted by AFP, the two killed overnight were both 17-year-olds. They were reportedly trying to break through the fence bordering Israel when they were hit. The Israeli military said it had hit a "terrorist squad identified handling an explosive device" near the security fence in the central Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military confirmed hitting what it called a "terrorist squad identified handling an explosive device" near the security fence in the central Gaza Strip. Four other Palestinians have been killed in similar Israeli raids over the past few days.
Later, four rockets were fired into southern Israel's Hof Ashkelon district, with the military wing of Gaza's rulers, Hamas, claiming responsibility. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the Israeli strikes prompted the group's military wing "to take a firm stance" and launch rockets.
According to Israel's Haaretz newspaper, the rockets landed in open areas and caused no casualties. Gaza-based Al-Aqsa TV said the Al-Qassam Brigades had fired 10 Grad missiles into southern Israel "in retaliation for the occupation's crimes".
The upsurge in violence follows an incident on Monday when militants infiltrated Israel from Egypt's Sinai desert and attacked a convoy of vehicles carrying workers building a barrier along the border. Although other militant Palestinian groups have fired rockets into southern Israel over recent months, Hamas had held its fire.
One worker was killed when an explosive device was detonated, and two of the attackers were then killed, at least one of whom was shot dead by the Israeli army. Correspondents say the surprise decision by the group - which rules Gaza - to re-engage militarily with Israel after months of relative calm, raises the prospect of a wider conflict.
Later on Monday, two suspected Palestinian militants travelling on a motorbike were killed during an Israeli air strike near the town of Beit Hanoun, near the Israeli border. Israel says the pair were planning an attack. Monday's attack from the Egyptian side of Israel's southern border has increased Israeli concerns about lawlessness in the region since last year's ousting of President Hosni Mubarak.
Later on Monday, two suspected Palestinian militants on a motorbike were killed in an Israeli air strike near the town of Beit Hanoun in Gaza. Israel says the pair were planning an attack.