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Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli strikes and three Israelis were wounded after a rocket fired from Gaza hit their home on Saturday during the most serious and widespread shootout between Israel and Palestinian fighters in Gaza since the 2014 war.
The Israeli army struck more than 40 Hamas targets across the Strip in the last 24 hours and 90 rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel, 16 of which were intercepted by the Iron Missile Defense system Dome. More than 140 rocket alarm sirens rang in communities near the border between Israel and Gaza.
14 Palestinians were injured after the strikes, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Injured Israelis include a 50-year-old man with chest injuries, a 17-year-old woman with facial injuries, and a 20-year-old woman with injured limbs. The rescuers took the wounded to the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.
>> Explained: Netanyahu resists pressure for Gaza war, but flames worsen ■ Gaza outbreak: Hamas has changed rules, Israel will react forcefully | Analysis
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held ongoing discussions with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, and senior security officials. An Israeli official said that it had been decided to take aggressive measures against the Gaza aggression and that Israel would increase its strength if necessary.
The army is ready "for the possibility that these events extend beyond the borders of Gaza," said a senior officer of the Israeli Air Force.
According to the officer, "the air force has the largest deployment, both on the defensive and the offensive, since Operation Protective Edge in 2014", did he says. "Since last night, more than 90 rockets have been launched on Israel, and more than 20 have been successfully intercepted by the air force," he added.
Mediation efforts to bring calm to the south are underway. The army said the mediators were acting on the badumption that Israel would accept an agreement that would be reached.
The Israeli government will meet Sunday to discuss climbing in the south. A Palestinian official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said that Egypt and other international actors had contacts with Israel and Gaza to restore calm. There was no immediate comment from officials in Cairo.
Eliyahu Hershkowitz
In recent hours, the Israeli army has reduced the number of strikes and has avoided leading attacks that will cause casualties in Gaza. The army however said that it was preparing for new attacks.
Israel targeted some 40 Hamas targets in Saturday's strikes, including tunnels, logistics centers and the Beit Lahia battalion headquarters of the organization. A Palestinian was moderately injured by shrapnel during an Israeli strike in Gaza, the Ministry of Health reported in Gaza on Saturday.
Six of the 31 rockets launched during the night were intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome missile defense system. one exploded near an Israeli border community. The IDF spokesman's unit reported that 60 rockets had been fired at Israel since 6am. On Saturday, 10 of them were intercepted by the Iron Dome.
More than 140 rocket-borne sirens rang out Saturday in southern Israeli communities near the border, including in areas of Sha & ar Hanegev, Eshkol and Ashkelon. Alarms continue to be heard at this time.
The Eshkol Regional Council said that a rocket landed in an empty field; another was intercepted by the missile defense system. No injuries have been reported.
Saturday's push follows a 24-hour climb, in which the army hit two Hamas attack tunnels and a training camp in the band after an officer from The IDF was moderately injured on Friday after protesters threw a grenade into northern Gaza.
The army sent messages to Hamas through an intermediary last week saying it would lead a harsh military response to incendiary kites and balloons launched from Gaza. The army also said last week that an Israeli plane had fired a missile at a cell that had launched incendiary balloons from northern Gaza.
>> The Israeli Army warns Hamas against a severe military response if kites and incendiary balloons continue to be launched in Israel
On Saturday, a 20-year-old Palestinian died of his injuries in border clashes on Friday, bringing the number of deaths to two after the last round of protests, Gaza's health ministry reported.
Meanwhile, footage of the 15-year-old Palestinian who was killed by an Israeli army shooting on Friday appeared, showing him trying to climb the fence and get shot. Both deaths carry the total balance since the beginning of the "March of Return" at 139.
Reuters contributed to this report
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