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GAZA / JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinians in Gaza on Monday fired rockets, mortar shells and at least one anti-tank missile into southern Israel. Israel retaliated with retaliatory aerial fire one day after the incident, which caused deadly fighting in the enclave.
Three Palestinian gunmen were killed in the air attacks, their factions said. On the Israeli side of the border, a guided missile destroyed a bus, seriously wounding a soldier and bombing hit at least two houses, the authorities said.
The outbreak has cast a new cloud on efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations to negotiate a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the dominant Islamist group in Gaza.
The enemies fought three wars during the last decade. Last Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he hoped to reach an "understanding" to avoid another conflict and alleviate the economic difficulties caused by the blockade imposed by Gaza on Israel.
The United States, whose attempt to seal a wider Israeli-Palestinian peace broke down in 2014, condemned Hamas.
"We stand with Israel in its defense against these attacks," commented US envoy Jason Greenblatt on Twitter. "This violence prevents any real help to the people of Gaza."
In southern Israel, interceptor missiles crossed the sky and sirens sounded as the army reported more than 200 rockets and mortars fired from Gaza.
Israeli doctors said that at least 10 people were injured. In Gaza, doctors said three people were injured and a university building was damaged.
The border had remained calm earlier in the day after a botched Israeli covert operation in Gaza sparked clashes that killed a Hamas commander, six other Palestinian militants and an Israeli colonel.
"In response to the crime of yesterday, the joint command of the Palestinian factions announced the beginning of the bombardment of rocket fire on the enemy's settlements," Hamas said in a statement released after the holding of the funerals for activists.
On Sunday late, Palestinians fired 17 rockets at Israel in response to the Israeli incursion and air strikes, which, according to Hamas, were aimed at covering the removal of a car used by Israeli commandos.
There have been no reports of injuries or damage in Israel during Sunday's incidents, but the military has stated that a lieutenant-colonel, identified only as being "M" , had been killed during the raid and that another officer had been injured.
Violence has regularly erupted along the Israel-Gaza border since the Palestinians began demonstrating on March 30 to claim the right to land lost for Israel in the 1948 war of its creation.
Israeli gunfire has killed more than 220 Palestinians since protests began, including breaches in the Israeli border fence.
Hamas said that during Sunday's fighting, assailants in a passing vehicle opened fire, killing local commander Nour Baraka, five other members and an armed man from the Popular Resistance Committees.
In an apparent attempt to defuse tensions, the Israeli army spokesman said that the special forces had not been sent to assassinate Hamas commanders, a tactic that had led to more conflict. vast in the past and had been largely abandoned.
Israeli media have suggested that the raid was organized to gather information.
Written by Jeffrey Heller; Additional report by Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Edited by Robin Pomeroy and David Stamp
