Strikes hit Gaza after rocketfire, 3 hurt

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GAZA, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Israeli air force strikes in response to rockets fired at Israel injured three Palestinians early Monday, officials said.

Israeli authorities said the rockets had injured at least three people Sunday.

The Palestinian Ma'an News Agency said the airstrikes began shortly after midnight in northern and southern Gaza.

Ashraf al-Qedra, a Health Ministry spokesman in Gaza, said the three people were slightly injured in the vicinity of Rafah, Haaretz reported.

The Israeli Army said aircraft targeted a weapons manufacturing facility, a suspected terror site and tunnels in northern and southern Gaza used to smuggle weapons.

A statement said the army "will not tolerate any attempt by terrorist groups to target Israeli civilians and Israel Defense Force soldiers and will continue to operate against those who use terror against the state of Israel."

Israeli officials blamed Hamas for firing rockets early Sunday that hit houses in Netivot and exploded in the city of Beersheba. Three Israeli civilians were slightly injured in the attack and four others were treated for shock, officials said.

"I'm absolutely committed to making clear to those terrorists they cannot do this with impunity. They have paid a price in the past for these crimes and they'll pay a price again," Israel's Channel One quoted Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as saying Sunday.