Hours before peace talks, Israel launches Gaza air raid after rocket attack

In this Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011 file photo, a rocket is launched from a new Israeli anti-missile system known as Iron Dome in order to intercept a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, in the southern city of Beersheba, Israel. The
In this Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011 file photo, a rocket is launched from a new Israeli anti-missile system known as Iron Dome in order to intercept a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, in the southern city of Beersheba, Israel. The Israeli air force targeted rocket launch sites in Gaza hours before the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians on Wednesday, after rockets were fired from the area, the Israeli army said. -- FILE PHOTO: AP 

JERUSALE (AFP) - The Israeli air force targeted rocket launch sites in Gaza hours before the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians on Wednesday, after rockets were fired from the area, the Israeli army said.

"The raid targeted two rocket launch sites after rockets were fired Tuesday from the Gaza Strip, one of which exploded on Israeli territory," said an army spokesman.

No one was injured in the attack.

"Hamas must account for any violation of Israeli sovereignty and the terrorist regime that it has put in place will be held responsible for any terrorist activity coming from the Gaza Strip," the spokesman added.

The Islamist Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip is opposed to the resumption of US-sponsored peace talks in Jerusalem later Wednesday.

The negotiations will come just hours after the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners as a confidence-building gesture, and a day after Israeli authorities announced the approval of 942 new settler homes in annexed east Jerusalem, provoking Palestinian fury.

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