Israel says its military launched air attacks Sunday in the Gaza Strip, killing a Hamas militant and wounding two others after a series of Palestinian cross-border rocket launches targeting Israel.
An army spokesman said the targeted militants were hit as they prepared to fire a rocket into Israeli territory.
Palestinian militants fired rockets into southern Israel on Friday and Saturday. One of them hit a factory in the town of Sderot, setting it on fire.
Israel's military says since the beginning of June, militants in the Gaza Strip have fired more than 60 rockets at Israel.
Israeli-Palestinian tensions have spiked since three Israeli teenagers disappeared in the West Bank on June 12. Israel accuses Hamas of kidnapping the youths.
Israel has arrested hundreds of Hamas members in a search for the missing teens. Hamas has denied any involvement in their disappearance. There has been no claim for the youths' abduction, nor has there been any indication of their whereabouts.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Israel is "ready" to expand its operations in Gaza.
Speaking to ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting, the Israeli premier said the almost-nightly military strikes on Gaza could be expanded should the need arise.
Israel's foreign minister went one step further saying limited operations against militants in Gaza only strengthen Hamas.
"The alternative is clear," Avigdor Lieberman said on Army Radio. "Either with each round we attack terror infrastructure and they shoot, or we go to full occupation."
Some information for this report provided by Reuters, AFP and AP.
