2 Palestinians wounded in Israeli air strikes

Israeli warplanes carried out strikes on targets in Gaza Strip on Sunday wounding two Palestinians, according to local radio stations. A reconnaissance drone targeted a motorcycle in Al-Saftwai district north of Gaza city, seriously wounding the rider. The motorcycle was destroyed in the attack and the 22-year-old rider was whisked to hospital for treatment. Another Palestinian, aged 12, who happened to be close to the scene of the air strike suffered medium wounds and was transported to a hospital in Bait Lahia town. The Israeli warplanes, at dawn, hit two locations in the center and south of Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian radios. The strikes targeted two sites used for training by Izz-Eddine Al-Qassam Brigades, military wing of the Islamic movement Hamas. The warplanes targeted the locations with missiles, but there was no word about casualties. A spokesman of the Israeli Army said the raids were carried out in retaliation for firing a missile from Gaza in direction of Western Negev, last night. Meanwhile, Israel Radio quoted Israeli security sources as saying that Tel Aviv, last week, addressed a "strongly-worded message" to Islamic Hamas movement, which controls Gaza. The message was related to the noticeable security deterioration, witnessed along the strip demarcation lines since start of the year. According to the Israeli Army, up to 20 shells and rockets have been launched in direction of Israeli-controlled territories since start of January. Source: KUNA