Israeli aircraft fired missiles at militants in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday and Palestinians sent rocket barrages flying into Israel, officials said, as newly resumed violence threatened to bury a five-month-old truce. The renewed rocket fire from Gaza prompted Israel to seal its crossings with the territory, halting shipments of food aid and fuel. Israel's military said the airstrike targeted rocket launchers and Dr. Moaiya Hassanain of Gaza's Health Ministry said two gunmen were moderately wounded.
Hamas militants in the northern Gaza Strip unleashed a barrage of rockets at the nearby Israeli town of Sderot, where Israeli rescue services said they were treating one person wounded by shrapnel. Several rockets hit agricultural communities near the Israel-Gaza border, and more rockets hit the coastal city of Ashkelon. No casualties were reported in those strikes. Hamas claimed responsibility for firing the rockets in a text message sent to reporters.
Israeli police and rescue services announced they were raising their alert level in preparation for more attacks.