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On March 14, a Palestinian was stabbed, a shop set ablaze, and cars near Hebron were stoned. On March 20, an 11-year old girl was run over en route to school.
Moreover, Israel announced 500 new settlement units and intensified home demolitions in response to the killings, despite no evidence linking them to Palestinians.
On March 21, Israeli air attacks again shelled and bombed Gazan civilian sites, wounding 15 civilians, including two women and two children. Dozens of homes, seven stores, several cars, a municipal building, a metal workshop, and a plastic waste recycling facility sustained total, heavy or partial damage.
On March 22, more attacks killed four, including two children, wounding 11, including eight children, three seriously. Members of the al-Quds Brigades were also targeted near the Abdul Aziz al-Rantisi mosque in eastern Gaza City, killing four.
On March 24, Israeli warplanes conducted two more attacks, targeting a Rafah city training site, causing heavy damage. No deaths or injuries were reported. In addition, according to the SAFA News Agency, air strikes hit a tunnel east of Rafah's Salah Al-Din gate. Four missiles were also fired at a Hamas military site in southern Gaza City, and Israeli attacks destroyed electric lines in several neighborhoods.
Israeli radio claimed Gaza launched rocket and mortar shells prompted the response. Islamic Jihad took responsibility, saying it acted "in retaliation for the ongoing Israeli aggression." Hamas says it's committed to a truce provided Israel stops attacking. Otherwise, it maintains its right of self-defense.
According to the International Middle East Media Center:
"Israeli politicians are said to be considering a further escalation, perhaps resulting in a 'Cast Lead 2.' " Given Washington's war on Libya, besides ongoing ones in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, plus numerous Middle East uprisings, an Israeli offensive now seems unlikely. But don't rule it out later at a more opportune time.
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