Air strike kills four in response to rocket fire

Israel killed four Hamas militants in a missile strike today, and moved artillery cannons to the Gaza border, part of a what it said would be a “crushing” response to the first major Hamas rocket barrage on Israeli towns since Israel’s pullout from Gaza two weeks earlier.

Israel also sealed the West Bank and Gaza, barring all Palestinians from its territory.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon convened a Saturday evening meeting of his Security Cabinet to approve the military response, expected to last for several days, though a large-scale ground operation appeared unlikely. The timing of the Cabinet meeting suggested a sense of urgency.

The Cabinet session came as Sharon faced a major leadership challenge in his Likud Party this week over the Gaza pullout. Sharon’s challenger, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned the withdrawal will endanger Israel. The barrage of 39 rockets, with five Israelis hurt, could give Netanyahu a boost against Sharon.

The escalation was set off by an explosion Friday at a Hamas rally in the crowded Jebaliya refugee camp in which at least 15 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded.

Witnesses said the blast went off near a pickup truck carrying Hamas militants and homemade rockets.

Hamas blamed Israel for the blast and said it fired rockets on Israeli border towns in retaliation. However, the Palestinian Authority held the Islamic militants responsible, saying they apparently mishandled explosives, and renewed demands that armed groups stop flaunting their weapons in public.

Today Israeli aircraft fired five missiles at two cars in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, killing four Hamas militants, according to medics, witnesses and Palestinian radio reports. Nine people were wounded in the air strike.

Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Shaath denounced the strike as an “act of criminal aggression”. Shaath also accused Israel of trying to destroy a temporary cease-fire that has largely held since February.

In an unprecedented step, Israel also set up five artillery cannons on the Gaza border, near the Israeli communal farm of Nahal Oz. Seven armoured personnel carriers guarded the cannons, and soldiers appeared to be settling in, setting up a command post and rolling out barbed wire.

In Gaza City, several loud booms were heard throughout the day as Israeli warplanes flew overhead, emitting white smoke. Frantic Palestinians ran for cover, but no casualties were reported. Palestinians accused Israel of launching “fake” air strikes to terrify the Palestinian population.