GAZA CITY (AFP) — An Israeli air strike killed four armed Palestinians after two rockets fired from Gaza hit Israel on Sunday as its leaders prepared to review its crippling blockade of the aid-dependent strip.
"There was an aerial attack against a (rocket) launching squad in the northern Gaza Strip a few minutes ago," an Israeli army spokesman said. "The force identified hitting them."
The head of the emergency services in Gaza, Moawiya Hassanein, told AFP: "Four resistance fighters were killed in an Israeli raid in an eastern neighbourhood of Gaza City and were taken to Gaza hospital."
The raid came shortly after two rockets hit uninhabited areas of Israel without causing any casualties or damage, the army spokesman said.
Amid the renewed exchanges, Israel maintained the crippling blockade of Gaza that it has imposed almost continuously since November 5, forcing the United Nations to suspend food distribution to 750,000 people and the territory's sole power plant to shut down.
"The crossings will remain closed until further orders," said Israel's liaison officer for the Palestinian territories, Peter Lerner.
"Consultations on their eventual reopening will take place during the day."
The Israeli cabinet was due to hold its weekly meeting later in the morning. Defence Minister Ehud Barak was also expected to discuss the situation on the ground with top commanders.
A range of international organisations and rights movements have urged Israel to ease the blockade.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "is deeply concerned at the deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation in Gaza and southern Israel. He calls on all parties to uphold international humanitarian and human rights law," a UN statement said.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas plans to raise the Gaza issue with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert when they meet on Monday for their first talks since September 16, Palestinian senior negotiator Saeb Erekat told AFP on Saturday.
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