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Israel launches new air strikes on Gaza Strip Israel launches new air strikes on Gaza Strip
(35 minutes later)
Israel has carried out more air strikes on the Gaza Strip, following dozens of rockets fired by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.Israel has carried out more air strikes on the Gaza Strip, following dozens of rockets fired by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
At least 15 Palestinians, including two women and a child, were reportedly hurt in the strikes.At least 15 Palestinians, including two women and a child, were reportedly hurt in the strikes.
Hamas said it fired rockets to respond to "Zionist aggression", after accusing Israel of killing five of its fighters.Hamas said it fired rockets to respond to "Zionist aggression", after accusing Israel of killing five of its fighters.
Israel denied the claim. It says it has now begun an open-ended aerial operation to end rocket fire from Gaza.Israel denied the claim. It says it has now begun an open-ended aerial operation to end rocket fire from Gaza.
Israel says the operation will be expanded in the coming days and that 1,500 reservists have been called up.Israel says the operation will be expanded in the coming days and that 1,500 reservists have been called up.
A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has told the BBC that Israel had the capacity to take its operation "up a notch" and warned that a ground incursion was "not off the table".A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has told the BBC that Israel had the capacity to take its operation "up a notch" and warned that a ground incursion was "not off the table".
That represents a significant strengthening of rhetoric on the Israeli side, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem.That represents a significant strengthening of rhetoric on the Israeli side, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem.
The sudden escalation has come just days after there was talk of a possible truce between Israel and Gaza with each side suggesting that calm would be answered with calm, our correspondent adds.The sudden escalation has come just days after there was talk of a possible truce between Israel and Gaza with each side suggesting that calm would be answered with calm, our correspondent adds.
Tension has spiked in recent days over the murders of three young Israelis and a Palestinian teenager.Tension has spiked in recent days over the murders of three young Israelis and a Palestinian teenager.
Israel says Hamas was behind the abduction and murder of the Israelis in the occupied West Bank - a claim Hamas denies.Israel says Hamas was behind the abduction and murder of the Israelis in the occupied West Bank - a claim Hamas denies.
A day after their funerals, a 16-year-old Palestinian was abducted and murdered in Jerusalem. Police have arrested six Jewish suspects and say it seems the Palestinian was killed because of his nationality.A day after their funerals, a 16-year-old Palestinian was abducted and murdered in Jerusalem. Police have arrested six Jewish suspects and say it seems the Palestinian was killed because of his nationality.
'Tremendous price''Tremendous price'
"#IDF has commenced Operation Protective Edge in #Gaza against #Hamas, in order to stop the terror #Israel's citizens face on a daily basis," a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces said in a tweet. "#IDF has commenced Operation Protective Edge in #Gaza against #Hamas, in order to stop the terror #Israel's citizens face on a daily basis," an IDF spokesperson said in a tweet.
It said 50 targets were hit throughout the night.It said 50 targets were hit throughout the night.
Later on Tuesday morning, the IDF said Hamas had fired at least 16 rockets at Israel, and that its Iron Dome air defence system had intercepted five of them over Ashdod and Ashkelon.
The military also deployed more troops near the Gaza border, reports say. However, the Israeli cabinet stopped short of ordering a ground operation for now.The military also deployed more troops near the Gaza border, reports say. However, the Israeli cabinet stopped short of ordering a ground operation for now.
Towns within 40km (24 miles) of the enclave were instructed by the central authorities to close schools and summer camps because of the threat of rocket-fire.Towns within 40km (24 miles) of the enclave were instructed by the central authorities to close schools and summer camps because of the threat of rocket-fire.
The army said that more rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza.The army said that more rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza.
Hamas said Israel targeted two houses and four training facilities used by the militants across Gaza.Hamas said Israel targeted two houses and four training facilities used by the militants across Gaza.
Palestinian medics said 15 people were injured, including two women and a child, in the southern town of Khan Younis.Palestinian medics said 15 people were injured, including two women and a child, in the southern town of Khan Younis.
Hamas militants reportedly warned they would enlarge the radius of their targets if Israel continued with the air strikes.Hamas militants reportedly warned they would enlarge the radius of their targets if Israel continued with the air strikes.
A Hamas spokesman had earlier accused Israel of killing the five militants during Sunday's air strikes and called it a "grave escalation".A Hamas spokesman had earlier accused Israel of killing the five militants during Sunday's air strikes and called it a "grave escalation".
He promised Israel would "pay a tremendous price".He promised Israel would "pay a tremendous price".
But Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner denied the claims, saying the men had died on Sunday in a tunnel that had been bombarded by Israel on Thursday.But Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Peter Lerner denied the claims, saying the men had died on Sunday in a tunnel that had been bombarded by Israel on Thursday.
He said the militants went into the tunnel to assess the damage from the air strike and meddled with some explosives, which were apparently detonated accidentally.He said the militants went into the tunnel to assess the damage from the air strike and meddled with some explosives, which were apparently detonated accidentally.
Israel said Hamas had launched dozens of rockets on southern and central towns on Monday.Israel said Hamas had launched dozens of rockets on southern and central towns on Monday.
"Seven rockets were intercepted over the [southern] city of Ashdod and five rockets were intercepted over Netivot," an army statement said, according to the AFP news agency."Seven rockets were intercepted over the [southern] city of Ashdod and five rockets were intercepted over Netivot," an army statement said, according to the AFP news agency.
Rocket alarm sirens were heard in the Hof Ashkelon and Shaar Hanegev areas.Rocket alarm sirens were heard in the Hof Ashkelon and Shaar Hanegev areas.
There were no reports of casualties in Israel.There were no reports of casualties in Israel.
Are you in the area? Do you have any information you would like to share? Please send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Gaza'.Are you in the area? Do you have any information you would like to share? Please send us your comments. You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line 'Gaza'.