Israel launches fresh air raids on Gaza strip

The Israeli army launched several attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip at dawn Tuesday, under the pretext of finding three Israeli settlers who have allegedly gone missing since a few days ago.
Four airstrikes were carried out in the city of Khan Yunis, the Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties have been reported so far.
Israeli air force has recently carried out at least a dozen strikes on the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli troops frequently target Palestinians, particularly along the border with the besieged enclave.
The latest attacks came after Israel blamed the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas for the alleged disappearance of the three Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. Hamas denied the accusation saying it is not holding the settlers.
Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standards of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.
Israel denies about 1.7 million people in Gaza their basic rights, such as freedom of movement, jobs that pay proper wages, and adequate healthcare and education.
Over 160 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed and about 1,200 others were injured in Israel’s eight-day offensive on the coastal enclave, which ended on November 21, 2012.
Source: QNA