Israeli air force attacks Gaza, many casualties

Source: Agencies  |   2008-12-27  |     ONLINE EDITION

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ISRAELI'S air force fired about 30 missiles at targets in the Gaza Strip today, destroying several Hamas police compounds and causing at least 50 casualties, a Gaza police source and witnesses said.

A Reuters correspondent said Gaza City port and security installations of the Islamist Hamas group were badly damaged. Thick black smoke billowed over the city.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the attack, which followed a decision by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's security cabinet to widen reprisals for cross-border Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel.

A six-month truce expired last week in Gaza.

About a dozen rockets and mortar bombs were fired from Gaza yesterday. One accidentally struck a northern Gaza house killing two Palestinian sisters, aged five and 13, and wounding a third, Palestinian medics said.


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