Matthew Chance: Anger on the streets of Gaza

CNN's Matthew Chance

RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Israeli helicopters and warplanes carried out airstrikes Tuesday on Palestinian targets in Gaza and the West Bank.

The strikes marked the second day of attacks in response to weekend suicide bombings by Islamic militants in Jerusalem and Haifa that left 25 Israelis and three suicide bombers dead.

The Israeli attacks appear to be targeting buildings belonging to the Palestinian Authority, including one next to Yasser Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah, and his residence in Gaza City.

CNN's Matthew Chance filed the following report from Gaza City:

CHANCE: We have been seeing some extremely dramatic scenes here on the Gaza Strip. I can tell you the skies have cleared over Gaza City now, and some relative calm has been restored -- all in stark contrast to the scenes we've been witnessing here in Gaza City, home to more than 1 million Palestinians.

Warplanes and helicopter gunships of the Israeli security forces struck hard at various targets across the city -- some of those targets including, according to Palestinian officials, the office of preventative security, the wing of the Palestinian Authority responsible for detaining and arresting suspected members of militant Palestinian groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

One base of the National Guard has been hit and partially destroyed, according to Palestinian officials, as well as the base of Yasser Arafat's personal bodyguard. Also, the presidential compound here in the Gaza Strip on the Mediterranean Sea was repeatedly struck again by Israeli helicopter gunships.

All those targets are very closely linked to the administration of the Palestinian Authority and with chairman Yasser Arafat himself.

During the airstrikes, there was pandemonium on the streets of Gaza City -- people running out of their buildings on to the streets to actually see for themselves what form these airstrikes were taking in the skies above them. Many of them also ran for cover.

Ambulances screamed through the streets of Gaza as well, indicating a relatively high level of casualties. The latest word that we have from Palestinian hospital officials is that three people at least have been killed in this latest round of Israeli attacks on Gaza itself. They're also saying that there are some 120 people who have been injured.

They're also very clear to point out that this situation is still developing, although there are no airstrikes under way right now in the Gaza Strip. They say there is a possibility of more attacks, and they are making preparations to care for more injured.

There's a lot of anger on the streets as well -- not just from Palestinian Authority officials who say this is a direct attack on the Palestinian leadership but also from Palestinians themselves, who are very angered that these attacks took place.