Israel launches 'Operation Protective Edge' against Gaza militants

Israel launched an aerial offensive in the Gaza Strip on July 8, bombing more than 30 targets including homes and calling it part of a campaign named "Operation Protective Edge" targeting Hamas Islamist militants firing rockets at the Jewish state.

The military urged Israelis within a 40-kilometers radius of the southern coastal territory to stay within reach of protected areas and ordered summer camps shut as a precaution against rocket fire.
 
Palestinian officials said Israel bombed more than 30 targets in little more than an hour before dawn, including two homes in southern Gaza, one of which was identified by a neighbour as belonging to a Hamas member.

Nine people suffered shrapnel injuries. There were no other reported casualties as the buildings were believed to have been evacuated beforehand.

Witnesses said a house bombed in Khan Younis was flattened. The Palestinian Health Ministry said nine neighbours were wounded by debris from that strike.

The Palestinian Interior Ministry said the family in the targeted home had received a telephone call from an Israeli intelligence officer asking them to leave the house because it would be bombed, and the family evacuated in time.

A military spokeswoman confirmed air strikes were launched but had no details. Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said in a tweet that "Operation Protective Edge is under way, targeting Hamas capabilities that are terrorizing Israel."

Hamas' armed wing threatened an "earthquake" in response to Israel's attacks, and said it had fired a rocket at a southern Israeli town.

In a statement the group denounced Israel's bombing of houses as "exceeding all red lines" and threatened to shoot rockets at longer...