Israeli jets bomb Gaza smuggling tunnels

GAZA, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The death toll rose from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rose to three Friday, officials said.

The Israeli military said it initiated four airstrikes along the Strip Thursday, targeting a weapons shop and two smuggling tunnels, but also hit a third passageway described by a military spokeswoman as a "terror tunnel" with access to Israel, CNN reported.

Hamas sources said three people died in the strikes.

The military spokeswoman said the strikes were called to respond to several rounds of rocket and mortar shells fired into Israel Thursday. The spokeswoman said the shelling struck a humanitarian aid crossing, forcing it to be closed and preventing trucks carrying fuel and other aid from entering Gaza, the spokeswoman said.

Israel has targeted the Rafah tunnels beneath the Gaza-Egypt border, saying Hamas uses them to smuggle weapons into Gaza. Palestinians counter the tunnels are used to bring in basic supplies unavailable in Gaza.