Palestinian gunman killed in Israeli air raid

Israeli warplanes attacked of A group of Palestinians near the village of Absan in southern Gaza on Monday killing one gunman and wounding a child, according to local radio stations. The radio stations identified the Palestinian who died in the strike as Hamada Abu Metleg, 24, member of Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad. During the night, scores of Palestinians were wounded in a wave of Israeli air attacks that mostly targeted houses of Palestinians. Among the hit targets was residence of Bahjat Hammad in Jibalya refugee camp. The aircraft hit it directly inflicting heavy damage and setting fires. For his Part, Adham Abu Salmiah, in charge of medical emergency services in the strip, told KUNA that 35 persons, who where inside the house when it was struck, suffered injuries. Most of the wounded were women and children. Elsewhere, a girl and a young man were wounded when a house located in the district of Al-Shujiah east of Gaza city was struck by the raiding warplanes. Security situation in and around Gaza has sharply deteriorated since four days ago, when Israel assassinated a leading Palestinian guerrilla. Some 20 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, mostly from the air. In retaliation, Palestinian gunners have fired rocket salvos on southern Israel. Tel Aviv says at least 100 missiles have targeted the south.