Israeli airstrikes injure 1 in southern Gaza

Gaza – Ma'an – Israeli warplanes fired missiles in the southern Gaza Strip Sunday morning, leaving one Palestinian civilian injured, Ma'an's correspondent said.

The airstrikes hit the Abasan area east of Khan Younis, with the injuries sustained by the civilian described as moderate. The injured was transferred to the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

Israeli warplanes further struck at smuggling tunnels along the Egypt-Gaza border in Rafah, with no casualties reported.

The Israeli military said the strikes were in response to a second day of projectile fire from Gaza, causing heavy damage to a building in southern Israel.

The army added that the air force struck "Hamas-linked terror tunnel and a weapons-smuggling tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip."

The latest airstrikes follow the death of a senior Al-Qassam Brigades leader on Saturday morning as 36-hours of air raids began a day earlier. The Israeli army says it has been responding to the launching of projectiles from Gaza.

Residents have described the apparent escalation in Israeli military action as the "fiercest" since Operation Cast Lead in December 2008.