Israel attacks Palestinian security targets

Israeli jets have fired missiles at Palestinian security buildings in three towns in apparent revenge for a Palestinian attack on an Israeli army base in the Gaza Strip yesterday.

The warplanes bombed police headquarters in Gaza City, Palestinian military intelligence offices in Deir el-Balah, just south of Gaza City, and police headquarters in Salfit in the West Bank. At least three Palestinians were injured following the attacks at 5am this morning.

Israel has released few details of the offensive, but witnesses said the planes used were F-16s. They scored direct hits in all three attacks. Palestinian police and civilians began evacuating security buildings throughout the Gaza Strip yesterday in anticipation of a retaliatory strike for a Palestinian attack that killed three Israeli soldiers.

Two militants were also killed in the attack after they raided an Israeli army outpost in the southern Gaza Strip and opened fire with machine guns and grenades.

Elsewhere yesterday, the Israeli army said three Israeli civilians were shot dead when their car was ambushed near Jerusalem.

Last night, Israel sent tanks, armoured personnel carriers and bulldozers into Palestinian parts of the Gaza Strip, destroying a security building and several checkpoints before withdrawing early today.

A Palestinian police sergeant died after being hit by tank fire during the incursion in Rafah.

At least six Israeli helicopters also hovered near Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s offices in Gaza City last night, but they eventually left without firing.