Air Force strikes in Gaza; 'children hurt'

Sources in Strip say Israeli aircraft bomb various targets, including 'metal foundry', police outpost. Hamas says will agree to ceasefire if Israel commits to 'stopping its aggression'

Elior Levy|Published: 03.22.11 , 00:38

Palestinian sources in Gaza said Israeli aircraft bombed a number of targets in the Hamas-ruled territory late Monday night. At least 17 people, among them seven children and two women, were injured in the air raids, Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Adham Abu Salmia said.

The IDF has yet to confirm or deny the report.

According to the sources, one of the targets was a Palestinian police outpost in north Gaza. The outpost was vacant at the time of the strike. The Air Force also attacked in the Jabal al-Ris area in eastern Gaza. Palestinians said another aerial raid targeted a construction material factory near the al-Shaaf neighborhood, located east of Gaza city.

The Air Force also bombed a "metal foundry" in Gaza City's Zeitun neighborhood and an unidentified target in the Shati refugee camp. One of the outposts attacked was manned by terrorists from the Hamas-affiliated Al-Ahrar organization.

On Monday evening it was reported that Israeli helicopters opened fire on a garage in the Sajaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City. The structure was damaged, but there were no reports of injury.

Hamas has stepped up rocket fire at Israel after a lengthy hiatus since a war of two years ago, claiming responsibility for the firings of more than two dozen mortars and rockets at the weekend.

Earlier Monday, the spokesman for Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, said his organization was once again ready to impose an unofficial ceasefire in the Gaza Strip "if Israel commits to stopping its aggression".

In an official statement Abu Obeida said, "We will also commit to this and toe the line with the national consensus." He warned, however, that Israel would "pay dearly" if it continued its airstrikes.

"The recent operations by the military wing are a response to Israel's ongoing crimes, which caused the deaths of two people and destruction of buildings in Gaza," he said.