Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza for a 4th day

17:34, 12 March 2012

GAZA CITY. March 12. KAZINFORM Fresh airstrikes early Monday in Gaza led to the death of a 15-year-old boy, the fourth civilian killed in four days of bombing by the Israeli military, Palestinian medical and security sources said.

Israel said the airstrikes targeted militant rocket launching sites across the Palestinian territory.

The bombing killed three people, Palestinian officials said: the teen and two militants. Forty others were injured, they said.

On Sunday, a 13-year-old boy was killed as was a 60-year-old Palestinian man who was guarding a farm grove in Gaza City, according to CNN.

And on Saturday, a 51-year-old man was killed on the back of a motorcycle.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak defended Israel's response.

"We remain determined to protect and defend our citizens," he said Monday. "If the attacks continue, we will continue to respond. It takes patience and resilience to overcome these challenges, but we are determined and we will be ready to defend our civilians at any moment."

A spokeswoman for the Israel Defense Forces said Monday's strikes targeted a weapons storage facility and rocket launching sites in Gaza.

At least 21 people have been killed in strikes since Friday, while at least 75 people have been wounded.

Full version

News World News