Israeli artillery hits houses in northern Gaza

Israeli artillery fire today hit two houses in the northern Gaza Strip, lightly injuring two people, Palestinian police said.

The Israeli shells landed in a farming area, lightly damaging the two homes with shrapnel and destroying a greenhouse, police said.

Israel has stepped up military activity in northern Gaza in response to home-made rocket attacks by Palestinian militants. The army said it was firing artillery toward suspected rocket-launching sites, but could not confirm whether a house had been struck.

The Islamic Jihad militant group claimed it fired three rockets into southern Israel, while the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a group linked to the Fatah Party, said it fired two more rockets.

The Israeli army said two rockets landed inside Israel this morning. There were no reports of casualties.