Israel attacks Palestinian targets

Attacks provoke 'intense anger' among Palestinians

The remains of a police jeep after missile attack

GAZA (CNN) - The Israeli army attacked three Palestinian targets in Gaza Tuesday morning, killing at least one person and injuring 14.

The Palestinians expressed "intense anger" at the latest attack, CNN Jerusalem Bureau Chief Mike Hanna reported. but the Israel Defense Forces said the attacks were in response to Palestinian mortar fire at Israelis.

"This is a declaration of war and we have to defend ourselves," said the head of Palestinian national security, Abdel Razeq Majaideh. "These attacks are part of a series of Israeli aggressions on the Palestinian people without reason."

VIDEO CNN's Mike Hanna has more on the continuing violence in the Mideast Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO CNN’s Mike Hanna: Palestinians see attack as declaration of war 620K/66.sec. AIFF or WAV sound    TIMELINES Recent acts of violence in the Middle East:  • Bombings  • Activist deaths     MESSAGE BOARD Share your thoughts on the Middle East peace process

In separate Israeli strikes, anti-tank shells hit a Palestinian military intelligence building in Deir el-Balah, and tank rounds were fired into a Palestinian police base north of Bet Hanoun.

The IDF said the firing at Bet Hanoun was in response to two mortar rounds that landed near Nisanit. Earlier Tuesday, Palestinians had fired a pair of mortar shells at the Jewish settlement of Katif, the IDF said.

The Israeli government had made it clear that it would continue to strike at Palestinian targets it claimed were involved in attacks against Israeli military and civilians, Hanna added.

Palestinian police said two surface-to-surface missiles hit the naval police headquarters in the Sudaniyeh neighbourhood in Gaza City, killing 30-year-old Lt. Wael Quoweiter.

Policeman Suleiman Diab said he saw the incoming missiles.

"I felt all the buildings shaking around me," said Diab, who was injured by shrapnel.

The missiles destroyed the front wall of the one-story building and two police jeeps parked nearby.

In Deir el-Balah, anti-tank shells damaged a Palestinian military intelligence building, and 10 people were injured, Palestinian doctors said.

In the past week, there has been a daily exchange of mortars and rockets, sign of a continued escalation in Israeli-Palestinian fighting, even as the U.S. is trying to arrange security talks.

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Israel Defense Force
Palestinian National Authority

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