Israeli army launches offensive on Gaza Strip

Palestinians carry bodies of the Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam Brigades members who were killed in an airstrike during a funeral in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip on Monday, July 7, 2014. The Islamic militant group Hamas that rules Gaza vowed revenge on Israel for the death of several of its members killed in an airstrike early Monday morning in the deadliest exchange of fire since the latest round of attacks began weeks ago. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) Palestinians carry bodies of the Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam Brigades members who were killed in an airstrike during a funeral in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip on Monday, July 7, 2014. The Islamic militant group Hamas that rules Gaza vowed revenge on Israel for the death of several of its members killed in an airstrike early Monday morning in the deadliest exchange of fire since the latest round of attacks began weeks ago. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

By Associated Press July 7, 2014 7 min read

JERUSALEM (AP) – The Israeli army said it launched an offensive operation early Tuesday against the Gaza Strip to quell rocket attacks, and a Palestinian official said Israeli airstrikes injured at least nine Palestinians.

The Israeli airstrikes come after Gaza militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel on Monday, setting off air raid sirens and forcing hundreds of thousands of Israelis to stay indoors.

The military rushed more forces to the border late Monday and had warned that such an offensive was likely.

A Twitter statement from the Israeli army said the offensive, dubbed “Operation Protective Edge,” is intended to “stop the terror Israel’s citizens face on a daily basis.”

The army said it was carrying out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip early Tuesday. It did not elaborate.