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-26549247

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

Version 2 Version 3
Gaza militants fire rocket barrage at southern Israel Gaza militants fire rocket barrage at southern Israel
(about 4 hours later)
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have fired more than 30 rockets at southern Israel, Israeli officials say.Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have fired more than 30 rockets at southern Israel, Israeli officials say.
An Israeli military spokesman said eight hit urban civilian areas and that a number of others were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system.An Israeli military spokesman said eight hit urban civilian areas and that a number of others were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system.
It was the heaviest barrage since the November 2012 conflict in Gaza ended. It was the heaviest barrage since the November 2012 conflict in Gaza ended. Islamic Jihad said it fired the rockets.
The military wing of Islamic Jihad said it had fired the rockets in retaliation for Tuesday's killing of three of its militants in an Israeli air strike. Israeli warplanes responded by targeting Islamic Jihad positions.
The group said its attacks were in retaliation for Tuesday's killing of three of its militants in an earlier Israeli air strike.
"Our Mujahideen responded to the Zionist aggression by firing tens of rockets," they said in a statement."Our Mujahideen responded to the Zionist aggression by firing tens of rockets," they said in a statement.
Speaking to the BBC, the group's spokesman added "The rocket fired today came in response to the occupation aggression against us and does not mean the collapse of the ceasefire agreement [with Israel]."Speaking to the BBC, the group's spokesman added "The rocket fired today came in response to the occupation aggression against us and does not mean the collapse of the ceasefire agreement [with Israel]."
Another Gaza militant group, the Popular Resistance Committees, said they fired several rockets as well. Another Gaza militant group, the Popular Resistance Committees, said they also fired several rockets.
Witnesses, including a photographer for the AFP news agency said that there were nine Israeli retaliatory strikes throughout the coastal strip on facilities operated by Islamic Jihad's military wing, the al-Quds Brigades, and on targets belonging to Hamas's military wing.
'Code red''Code red'
Late on Wednesday, "code red" sirens sounded across southern Israel after militants fired tens of rockets from northern Gaza in a co-ordinated attack, Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner said.Late on Wednesday, "code red" sirens sounded across southern Israel after militants fired tens of rockets from northern Gaza in a co-ordinated attack, Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner said.
One rocket exploded near a petrol station and another near a public library, a police spokesman said.One rocket exploded near a petrol station and another near a public library, a police spokesman said.
Israeli troops responded by targeting "two terrorist locations" with artillery rounds, Col Lerner said, blaming Islamic Jihad for the largest barrage since a ceasefire ended the eight-day conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza at the end of 2012. Israeli troops initially responded by targeting "two terrorist locations" with artillery rounds, Col Lerner said.
Residents in the Beit Hanoun area of Gaza said they saw an Israeli strike hit a rocket launcher squad.Residents in the Beit Hanoun area of Gaza said they saw an Israeli strike hit a rocket launcher squad.
A statement by Islamic Jihad's military wing, the al-Quds Brigades, said the barrage was its "initial response" to the "crimes of the Zionist enemy in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip", the latest of which was the "assassination" of three of its members on Tuesday. A statement by the al-Quds Brigades said the barrage was its "initial response" to the "crimes of the Zionist enemy in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip", the latest of which was the "assassination" of three of its members on Tuesday.
The Israeli military said it had targeted the militants after they fired mortars at its troops. The al-Quds Brigades said the Israeli soldiers had crossed into the Gaza Strip.The Israeli military said it had targeted the militants after they fired mortars at its troops. The al-Quds Brigades said the Israeli soldiers had crossed into the Gaza Strip.
After Wednesday's rocket barrage, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We won't flinch. We will continue to hurt those who try to hurt us. After Wednesday's rocket barrage, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "We won't flinch. We will continue to hurt those who try to hurt us."
"We will continue to act with determination against terrorist groups. The number of rockets this year has been the lowest in the last decade. We will act to ensure security of Israeli citizens." He said that the number of rockets this year has been the lowest in the last decade.
Israel's Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said Israel should reoccupy the Gaza Strip.
Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad and other groups have sporadically fired rockets and mortars at Israel since the 2012 conflict ended, while the Hamas movement that governs Gaza has refrained from doing so.Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad and other groups have sporadically fired rockets and mortars at Israel since the 2012 conflict ended, while the Hamas movement that governs Gaza has refrained from doing so.
However, an Israeli military statement said it held Hamas "responsible for all attacks emanating" from the coastal territory.However, an Israeli military statement said it held Hamas "responsible for all attacks emanating" from the coastal territory.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, on a visit to Israel, condemned the rocket attack.British Prime Minister David Cameron, on a visit to Israel, condemned the rocket attack.
"They are a reminder once again of the importance of maintaining and securing Israel's future and the security threats that you face, and you have Britain's support in facing those security threats," he said."They are a reminder once again of the importance of maintaining and securing Israel's future and the security threats that you face, and you have Britain's support in facing those security threats," he said.
According to Israeli military figures, until those fired on Wednesday, Gaza militants had fired 32 rockets toward Israel this year, compared with 49 in 2013. Rockets were fired at southern Israel on an almost daily basis before that.
Israel pulled its troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip, now run by Hamas, in 2005. But it maintains a naval and air blockade and restricts the overland movement of people and goods across their shared border.Israel pulled its troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip, now run by Hamas, in 2005. But it maintains a naval and air blockade and restricts the overland movement of people and goods across their shared border.