Israeli airstrikes hit 3 Hamas targets, adding new layer to Gaza violence

Three Israeli airstrikes on Thursday destroyed a Hamas compound, a car carrying two senior commanders and a trailer used by the Islamic group. Three militants were killed and scores of people wounded, adding a new layer of violence to Palestinian infighting that has paralyzed the Gaza Strip.

The strikes were in Gaza City, where 22 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday in the most widespread factional fighting in nearly a year between Hamas and the rival Fatah.

The Israeli army confirmed all three airstrikes, which came after Israel threatened "harsh" action in response to repeated Palestinian rocket attacks. More than 50 rockets have fallen on the Israeli town of Sderot in the last three days.

The raging Fatah-Hamas street battles have turned the densely populated seaside city into a war zone, endangered the Palestinian unity government and threatened to drag Israel into the fray.

A new cease-fire between the warring Palestinian parties sharply reduced the infighting Thursday. But by midafternoon, three people had been killed in new clashes.

"Israel will defend our citizens. We will actively stop rockets, rocket launchers, those who plan the terror infrastructure," said Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin. She repeated Israel's vow not to be drawn into the Gaza morass, but the heavy airstrike raised questions about the commitment.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to discuss the violence, said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, adding that Israel has shown "great restraint" in responding to the rocket attacks.

The explosion at the Hamas compound sent heavy plumes of gray smoke into the Gaza sky, destroying the structure and several others around it and sending terrified residents scurrying.

After the blast, a large crowd gathered at the site, frantically digging through the rubble and pulling out the wounded. One woman, her white robe covered in blood, was carried away from the area.

Palestinian witnesses and medical officials said one person was killed and 45 in the first airstrike.

Hamas said the target was an administration building of its elite bodyguards unit. The two-story structure is normally filled with Hamas personnel.

The military said in a statement that following rocket salvos and other attacks by Hamas, the Israeli military carried out "an aerial attack against a Hamas terrorist headquarters in Gaza City."

In a text message sent to reporters, Hamas military wing spokesman Abu Obeida vowed revenge against Israel, possibly by suicide bombing.

"The Zionist enemy are launching an open war against Hamas. Therefore, reprisal options are open, including self-sacrifice operations," he said. "We advise the Zionist settlers to go immediately to the basement of their residence because our rockets will not spare any of them."

In a statement, Hamas called on all its members to take extra precautions "because everyone is targeted" by Israel, including senior leaders. Abu Obeida said at sundown that the group fired 35 rockets and 12 mortar shells at Israel on Thursday. One hit a factory, setting it on fire. No one was hurt.

The Israeli attack on the compound was followed quickly with two more airstrikes.

Hamas said an Israeli aircraft attacked a Palestinian car carrying two senior Hamas commanders, killing one and wounding the other. It did not identify them. The army said that airstrike had targeted a Palestinian rocket squad.

Minutes later, Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a trailer in northern Gaza housing security guards of a senior Hamas official, killing one and wounding eight, Hamas and the military said.

Abbas postponed a planned visit to the Gaza Strip from his West Bank headquarters after the latest outbreak of violence, officials said.

Officials in Abbas' office said the trip would be delayed by at least a day, but gave no firm time for his visit. They said he was determined to travel to Gaza, though the delay appeared to signal that his people could not guarantee his safety.

"The reason for the trip is to stop the fighting," Presidential aide Saeb Erekat said. He said the talks would focus on Abbas' plan to end the infighting and chaos plaguing Gaza. "This is to preserve our social fabric, our society, our internal peace," he said. "Without this, we're doomed."

Sporadic gunfire could be heard in Gaza City on Thursday. But it was nowhere near as intense as Wednesday, when masked gunmen engaged in fierce battles and took over otherwise deserted streets, trapping frightening residents in their homes.

Gaza residents took advantage of the lull to stock up on bread, bottled water, diapers and other basic supplies.

Ghassan Abu al-Qas, a grocery store owner, said business was brisk.

"I have run out of cigarettes and I'm almost out of mineral water. I don't have many diapers left," he said. The only item that wasn't selling was newspapers, he said. "No one has asked to buy newspapers," he said.

But streets were still relatively quiet, and few cars were on the roads because of the large number of roadblocks. At one point, gunfire forced a team of electric workers to halt repairs on power lines, leaving parts of Gaza City without power for a third day.

Nearly 50 people have been killed since Sunday in Palestinian infighting, which has included the most ferocious battles in more than a year of factional clashes. The violence has left the two-month-old Palestinian unity government on the brink of collapse.

In Thursday's violence, gunfire erupted at a Hamas funeral procession Thursday, killing two people and wounding 14 others, Palestinian medical officials said.

The funeral was for two Hamas fighters killed during Wednesday's factional violence. Witnesses said members of the procession were firing their weapons into the air _ a custom at Palestinian funerals _ when members of a Fatah security force based in a nearby building began firing. The two sides accused each other of starting the battle.

In Gaza City, Hamas said one of its men was kidnapped and executed by security forces loyal to Fatah. There was no comment from Fatah.

The violence has left the fragile unity government in tatters, though Fatah and Hamas leaders have said they hope to preserve the coalition. A main goal of the alliance, formed in March, was to halt months of factional violence, but the unity deal never addressed a key area of dispute _ control over Palestinian security forces.

Jordan's King Abdullah II said Thursday he was "very concerned" by the wave of inter-Palestinian fighting in Gaza and warned that more violence will come unless progress is made in the peace process.

"It must stop for the sake of the Palestinian people and for the sake of Palestine," Abdullah told a gathering of Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian peace activists.

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Associated Press Writer Mohammed Daraghmeh in Aqaba, Jordan, contributed to this report.