Palestinian militants fire rockets following Israeli strikes
- The rocket fire set off air-raid sirens throughout southern Israel and as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 80km (50 miles) away
- Israeli TV stations showed air defence systems intercepting rockets in the skies above Tel Aviv
Palestinian militants fired dozens of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Wednesday, in a first response to Israeli air strikes that have killed 16 Palestinians, including three senior militants and at least 10 civilians.
The rocket fire set off air-raid sirens throughout southern Israel and as far away as the area of Tel Aviv, on the Mediterranean Sea, 80 kilometres (50 miles) away. Residents had been bracing for an attack since Israel carried out its first air strikes early on Tuesday.
Israeli TV stations showed air defence systems intercepting rockets above the skies of Tel Aviv.
In a move that could further raise tensions, Israeli police said they would permit a Jewish ultranationalist parade to take place next week.
The parade, meant to celebrate Israel’s capture of east Jerusalem and its Jewish holy sites, marches through the heart of the Old City’s Muslim Quarter and often leads to friction with local Palestinian residents.
02:29
‘Don’t be afraid, Dad is coming’: Gaza children awakened by explosions amid Israeli air strikes
As air raid sirens continued to wail, the army said at least 60 rockets had been fired in less than an hour from Gaza. There were no immediate reports of injuries, though local officials said an empty home in the southern town of Sderot was struck.