The Israeli Air Force struck a Qassam launching cell in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on Monday.
Shortly before they were hit, the cell's operatives fired two Qassam rockets towards Israel .One rocket landed near Netiv Ha'asara and another in an open area near Ashkelon. No injuries or damage were reported.
According to Palestinian reports, one Hamas memberwas killed in the air strike and two other operatives were wounded.
Army forces also struck Palestinians attempting to place explosive devices near the Erez crossing, killing two. The IDF confirmed both incidents.
Meanwhile, Palestinian sources reported Monday that an IDF engineering force began stripping and demolishing factories in the northern Gaza Strip, bordering with the Erez industrial area.
The defense establishment has begun preparing for the "day after" the Annapolis peace conference :According to military sources, should the summit fail, the government may order a large-scale operation in Gaza, meant to fight terror infrastructure.
Hanan Greenberg and Shmulik Hadad contributed to this report