Israeli air strikes hit Gaza tunnels in spite of ceasefire

28 Jan, 2009 10:44 / Updated 15 years ago

A series of Israeli air strikes have targeted smuggling tunnels across Gaza's southern border. The bombardment is in retaliation to a roadside bomb that killed an Israeli soldier and injured three more on Tuesday.

An Israeli military offroader which was patrolling Gaza border triggered the roadside bomb.

It is now the most serious breach of the ceasefire announced by Israel and Hamas on January 18, following the three-week-long Israeli offensive in the area.

The Israeli offensive claimed the lives of about 1,200 Palestinians, most of them civilians, and thirteen Israelis.

Controlling arms smuggling into Gaza across its border with Egypt is a key Israeli demand.

According to the Palestinian data, two people were injured during the air strikes on Wednesday, one of them a Hamas activist.