Israel hits Gaza militant targets

Palestinians walk amid the rubble of their houses that were demolished by the Israeli army in the southern Gaza Strip refugee camp of Rafah near the Egyptian border. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been made homeless in Rafah after two days of intensive demolition activity by the Israeli army. PHOTO: AFP

The group says it set a recent ambush that killed five Israeli troops.

In the southern Rafah refugee camp, a missile hit the home of senior leader Mohammed Sheikh Khalil.

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Earlier, missiles hit buildings used by the group in Gaza City, in what Islamic Jihad says was an attempt to assassinate another of its leaders.

No-one was reported killed in either attack, but Islamic Jihad has threatened what it said would be earthquake-like retaliation.

The latest Israeli strikes come at the end of a week in which 13 Israeli soldiers and about 30 Palestinians were killed in fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops have demolished scores of homes in a move they say is designed to expand a buffer zone along the border with Egypt.

The UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says more than 1,000 people have already been made homeless by the demolitions.

Spokesman Paul McCann said 88 buildings housing more than 200 families had been destroyed in Rafah.

Israeli officials revealed the plan on Friday, saying it was needed to ensure the protection of troops and prevent the smuggling of weapons.

Meanwhile, Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza have been preparing to hold demonstrations to mark the Naqba, or catastrophe, their commemoration of the creation of Israel in 1948.

And supporters of Israel's opposition Labour Party will gather in Tel Aviv later in the day to back Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan for a withdrawal from all Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the West Bank.

The Israeli army said the missile attacks in Gaza, which came during the night and at noon local time (0900 GMT), were aimed at offices being used to co-ordinate terrorist activity.

Afterwards, the Israeli army said that the building had been used to store weapons and make explosives. Mr Sheikh Khalil, who is known to be a leading figure in the military wing of Islamic Jihad was in his house immediately before the noon attack, but reportedly heard the helicopter and fled.