Three large explosions in Gaza City

Three large explosions went off in central Gaza City today, and ambulances raced to the area, witnesses said.

The circumstances of the blasts were not immediately clear. However, witnesses said they saw Israeli warplanes over Gaza at the time of the explosions.

The explosions came shortly after Israel’s defence minister said he would deliver a “crushing” response to Hamas rocket fire on Israeli border towns overnight.

In a meeting with security chiefs, Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz also decided to send more ground troops to the Gaza border, and said Israel might resume targeted killings of Palestinian militants.

During more than four years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, scores of militants were killed in targeted attacks, most by missiles fired from Israeli aircraft.

The Palestinian Interior Ministry accused Israel of having launched ``fake'' airstrikes to terrify the Palestinian population. Witnesses said they saw smoke coming out of the warplanes, and that the booms were heard across Gaza City.