Israeli aircraft strikes Hamas militants

AN Israeli aircraft yesterday fired at a group of Hamas militants who were about to shoot mortar shells at a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, a move which threatened a fragile ceasefire declared in February.

The airstrike came minutes after militants fired four mortar shells at the Gush Katif settlement bloc. The army said it spotted two Palestinians preparing to fire more mortars when it attacked.

Hamas said one of its members was critically wounded while conducting a "holy mission". After the airstrike, militants fired a fifth mortar shell, the army said.