Israel, Gaza militants trade fire as Mideast tensions mount

By ILAN BEN ZION
Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinian militants have fired several rockets into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip and Israeli aircraft have hit militant targets in the territory. It’s part of an escalation that has been eerily similar to the run-up to last year’s 11-day war between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers. There were no reports of injuries in the rocket attacks and air strikes late Wednesday and early Thursday. The cross-border strikes come against the backdrop of soaring Israeli-Palestinian tensions in Jerusalem. On Wednesday, hundreds of flag-waving Israeli ultra-nationalists marched toward predominantly Palestinian areas around Jerusalem’s Old City but were blocked by police. Gaza militants had warned Israel would be held responsible if it allowed the marchers to approach Jerusalem holy sites.