Israeli airstrike kills one, wounds three in Gaza

ISRAEL: An Israeli airstrike hit a group of Palestinian militants in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip late Tuesday, killing one person and wounding three others, Palestinian officials said.

The Israeli military confirmed the attack, which hit near the southern town of Khan Yunis, saying the strike "targeted a group of terrorists preparing to fire rockets at Israel, killing one of them and wounding three others, all members of the Popular Resistance Committees."

The Nasser Salaheddin Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, issued a statement announcing the "martyrdom" of Jihad Sumeri, a senior member of the group. One of the wounded was in a critical condition, said Muawiya Hassanein, the head of Gaza emergency services.

The attack marked the latest violence along Gaza's border, which has been mostly quiet since a war Israel launched on the Islamist Hamas in Gaza on December 27, 2008 in response to rocket fire ended with mutual ceasefires on January 18.

The ceasefires have largely held, despite violations by both sides. GAZA CITY, Wednesday, AFP