Hamas and Gaza health officials say five of the group's members have been killed and four others wounded in Israel Air Force in two seperate strikes in southern Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces spokesman said the strikes were in response to a mortar attack Friday by Hamas militants that killed an Israeli civilian, 48, in the western Negev town of Kfar Aza.

Hamas says the attack on the town of Rafah targeted a Hamas police station, killing two of its members and wounding four. the other IAF strike killed three Hamas men in the Gaza town of Khan Younes. Hamas says the casualties were all members of the group's police force.

A Magen David Adom rescue crew which was summoned to the scene pronounced the man dead following unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate him.

Three soldiers were injured in the incident; one was moderately hurt by shrapnel and evacuated to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon, while two others were lightly injured by shrapnel, and are currently receiving medical treatment at Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva.

The IDF spokesperson also confirmed an additional strike early Saturday morning, in which the IAF attacked a group of gunmen near the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip. They confirmed the group was hit, but there was no word yet on casualties.

Palestinians in Gaza have launched at least four mortars and four Qassam rockets towards Israeli territory since Friday, with one of them causing damage to a synagogue in Sderot.

The radio of Gaza's ruling Hamas movement said the group was responsible for the mortar fire.

"Hamas is clearly in control of the Gaza Strip and responsible for all hostile fire into Israel. We hold it accountable for today's attack and the murder of our civilians," said David Baker, an Israeli government spokesman.

Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas' military wing, said militants had targeted a military position.

Asked if the deadly attack wouldn't make it more difficult to conclude a
truce, he replied, "We will continue to fire until the last moment before a truce is completed."

This past Tuesday, the authorities imposed a general closure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as part of security measures put in place for Memorial Day and Independence Day celebrations. Nonetheless, rocket fire by Palestinian militants into Israel has continued - 14 Qassam rockets hit the western Negev on Tuesday, though there were no injuries or damage reported.

One man was treated for shock and admitted to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon. Eight of the Qassam landing spots were identified - four of them slammed near a number of kibbutzim in the Sha'ar Henegev regional council, two others fell in the Sha'ar Hanegev industrial zone, and two more landed in Sderot and Kibbutz Nir-Am.

In addition, 12 mortar shells and two Grad missiles were launched Tuesday, however those projectiles landed in Palestinian territory.

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