'Five hurt' in Israeli Gaza Strip air raids Published duration 16 January 2014

image copyright Reuters image caption Sporadic cross-border fire has continued since a ceasefire in 2012

Five people including four children have been injured in a series of Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics have told the BBC.

The raids took place on Thursday shortly after militants fired five rockets towards Ashkelon in southern Israel, the military said.

An army spokesman said the missiles were intercepted.

In Gaza, witnesses said planes attacked five different sites and explosions could be heard across the Strip.

At least one missile hit a training facility for al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamist movement, Hamas, which governs Gaza.

Another raid was reported to have targeted a rocket launcher cell in an agricultural farm east of Gaza City.

Israeli sources say no injuries were caused by Thursday's rocket attacks.

There has been intermittent violence along the border since a ceasefire ended an eight-day conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza in November 2012.

On Monday, the Israel Air Force struck two targets in Gaza in response to rocket fire on southern Israel earlier in the day.

Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005 under the orders of late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.