Israel increases efforts in the war with HAMAS

Hamas-linked media office and a metal foundry in the Gaza Strip were hit by the Israeli helicopters in an apparent retaliation for two deadly attacks by the Islamic militant group, reports reuters.com.

They said three helicopter-fired missiles slammed into the al-Jeel building in Gaza City, whose print facilities put out a journal Hamas uses to promote a 3 1/2-year-old Palestinian uprising. At least one person was hurt, according to medics.

According to bbc.co.uk, the reported attacks came after a Palestinian rocket attack killed two people in the Israeli town of Sderot.

At least nine other people were injured in the town when two rockets launched from the Gaza Strip landed near a kindergarten.

Militants often fire rockets into Israel from Gaza, but this was the first time they had killed Israelis.

Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack on Sderot, which is two and a half miles inside Israel and less than a mile from Mr Sharon's private farm. "With the help of Allah," the Islamic group said, "two Zionists were killed and a number of Zionist settlers were injured.", cites independent.co.uk.