Air strikes on Gaza after rockets hit southern Israel Published duration 23 March 2011

Israeli warplanes have launched air strikes east of Gaza City, after Palestinian militants fired two rockets into southern Israel.

One rocket hit the region's biggest city, Beersheba, injuring one person, the Israeli army said. The second landed near the city of Ashdod.

The Islamic Jihad militant group said it had carried out the attacks, in reprisal for the killing of eight Palestinians near Gaza City on Tuesday.

Violence has spiked since Saturday.