Israel Launches Further Attacks On Gaza

Thursday March 24, 2011 20:47 by David Steele - 1 of International Middle East Media Center Editorial Group

Palestinian news sources report two waves of air-strikes in the Gaza Strip. The first took place last night, and the second this morning.

A total of one person was injured during the second strike. At approximately 2am on Thursday, the Israeli Air Force attacked several areas in the Gaza Strip. They allegedly targeted a tunnel, a site connected to Hamas's armed wing – the al-Qassem brigades and a power station. The latter attack caused blackouts in Gaza City.

No injuries were reported from this attack, although it is said to have caused panic in large portions of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government stated that the attack was in response to a recent series of rockets fired from the Strip into southern Israel.

A second attack on a group of men by a gas-station, near Jabaliya refugee camp, caused one injury and took place at approximately 8.30 am. Israel claims that the group of men were 'terrorists preparing to launch rockets at Israeli territory', although no evidence has yet been provided to substantiate this claim.

Hamas has vowed to 'restore calm' to the area and recently offered Israel a truce, although it's not known whether this offer still stands following Israel's killing of several Gazan civilians, including 2 children. The recent escalation in fighting follows a lethal attack by Israel on two Hamas militants on 16th March, which the group responded to by firing 50 mortars into southern Israel.

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