Israel airstrikes hit third consecutive night in Gaza

Israel airstrikes hit third consecutive night in Gaza

Israeli aircraft struck a series of targets in the Gaza Strip early on Monday in response to a series of rocket launches out of the Hamas-ruled territory. It was the third consecutive night of fighting. Six Palestinian inmates, as well as struggling efforts by Egypt to broker a long-term cease-fire in the wake of an 11-day war last May have heightened tensions following last week’s escape from an Israeli prison. In earlier reports Palestinians launched a rocket into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Sunday night, the Israeli military said, adding that the rocket was intercepted. In response, it said it attacked a number of Hamas targets. There were no reports of casualties on either side. Israel over the weekend captured four of the six escaped prisoners and stepped up its search for the two remaining fugitives. In response, Hamas members have fired rockets into Israel for three consecutive nights. Israel typically responds to rocket fire with airstrikes on targets connected to Gaza's ruling Hamas group. The tensions have been worsened by ongoing difficulties in reaching a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas following the war in May. Egypt has been trying to broker an agreement. Hamas has demanded that