Rockets light up Israeli skies

Israeli air strikes shook Gaza every few minutes yesterday as Palestinian extremists continued to fire rockets at Israel's heartland.

Palestinian officials say the raids have killed at least 38 people in the Gaza Strip enclave, which is dominated by extremist group Hamas.

Missiles from the Iron Dome defence system shot into the sky to intercept rockets launched from Gaza and aimed at Tel Aviv for a second consecutive day.

In the longest-range attack since Tuesday, a rocket hit near Zichron Yaakov, a town 115km north of Gaza. No serious injuries were reported.

The military said 48 rockets struck Israel yesterday, and Iron Dome intercepted 14 others.

Frequent explosions from air strikes echoed through Gaza City yesterday. The main shopping street was largely deserted. Residents reported hundreds of attacks.

The Israeli military said it had bombed 550 Hamas sites, including 60 rocket launchers and the homes of 11 senior Hamas members.

Palestinian officials said at least 25 houses were destroyed or damaged.

The build-up to the most serious hostilities between Israel and Gaza militants follows the abduction and murder of three Jewish seminary students in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli leaders, who seem to have wide popular support for the Gaza operation, have warned of a lengthy campaign and the possibility of a ground invasion of Palestinian territory.

"We have decided to step up even more the attacks on Hamas," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.