Israeli air raid on Gaza kills one: Palestinian medics

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A Palestinian was killed and another wounded in a dawn raid on Wednesday by Israeli warplanes near the southern town of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources said.

The Israeli attack had targetted two Palestinians travelling on a motorbike. One of them had died of his wounds, while the other had been taken to hospital, said the sources.

A statement issued by the Al-Quds Brigade, Islamic Jihad's armed wing, said the two belonged to their organisation, but had been going to pray when they were attacked.

A second attack by Israeli warplanes targetted a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip used to smuggle goods in from Egypt, said a member of the Palestinian security services.

Late Tuesday, an Israeli police spokesman said a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel had exploded in a field, causing no casualties.

But last Friday, Netanyahu said Israel was ready to act with "great force" in response to rocket and mortar attacks.

When on Sunday an Israeli air strike killed two Gaza militants, the Al-Quds Brigade threatened to respond.

Gaza's Hamas rulers later the same day issued a statement repeating a call for calm agreed with Islamic Jihad and other factions at a meeting Saturday.

Israel's leaders have appeared reluctant to be dragged into another bloody war with Hamas, especially as they lack international support for any new offensive on Gaza.

Reacting to persistent attacks from Gaza, Israel launched a three-week assault on the strip over New Year, 2009, in which some 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis died.