Clashes continue between Israel and Gaza militants; 9 Palestinians killed

Israel's military launches air attacks against targets throughout Gaza, saying it's retaliating for continuing rocket and mortar strikes against southern Israeli cities over the preceding 48 hours.

Clashes between Israel's military and Gaza Strip militants continued for a second day Friday, killing nine Palestinians — four civilians and five militia fighters accused by Israel of launching rocket attacks, officials said.

Israel's military launched several air attacks against targets throughout Gaza, saying it was retaliating for continuing rocket and mortar strikes against southern Israeli cities over the preceding 48 hours. Most of the projectiles fired by Gaza militants were destroyed or landed in open space, but one antitank missile Thursday critically injured a teenage Israeli boy in a school bus.

"Red lines were crossed," Israeli Maj. Gen. Tal Russo, who is in charge of the southern command, said on Israel's Army Radio.

Some Israelis and Palestinians expressed fear that the worsening violence could escalate into the start of another Israeli ground offensive, similar to the 22-day Operation Cast Lead that began in December 2008 and killed about 1,400 Palestinians.

"We are scared," said Jamal Abdul Ghani, who lives 800 yards from the border with Israel.

Gaza hospital officials said late Friday that 14 Palestinians had been killed since Thursday, including two children and a woman who were mistakenly hit during the Israeli airstrikes.

Hamas, the militant Islamic group that controls Gaza, did not respond to a request for comment.

In a statement, Israel's military blamed militants for the civilian deaths, saying they "were firing mortar shells from the heart of a civilian neighborhood."

Israeli officials have said they do not believe that leaders of Hamas want another major clash. Late Thursday, the group tried unsuccessfully to organize a cease-fire.

"I believe they are still deterred," said Israeli Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon this week. "Hamas doesn't want to pay the price." Continued…