3 Israelis killed in Gaza rocket fire

PanARMENIAN.Net - Militants in the Gaza Strip pounded southern Israel with rocket fire on Thursday, November 15 killing three people as the Israeli military pressed forward with a second day of intense air raids and naval attacks on militant targets, AP said.

With Israel threatening to invade the Palestinian territory, the heaviest fighting between Israel and Hamas in four years showed no signs of letting up, accoridng to AP.

The fighting, which began Wednesday when Israel assassinated Hamas' military chief, brought life to a standstill on both sides of the border.

The deaths in the southern Israeli town of Kiryat Malachi were the first in Israel since it launched its operation and raised the prospects of even fiercer Israeli retaliation. Israel has been systematically targeting rocket stores in Gaza and claims to have taken out dozens of launchers. Israeli leaders have said they are prepared to broaden the operation to a ground invasion if necessary, though there were no signs of extraordinary troop movements along the border.

Following the assassination of Hamas mastermind Ahmed Jabari, Israeli tanks, gunboats and aircraft struck dozens of sites across Gaza. A total of 15 Palestinians, including seven civilians, have been killed and more than 100 people wounded, according to Palestinian medical officials.