Fighting flared in Gaza on April 7 after a Palestinian anti-tank missile hit an Israeli school bus, wounding two, and Israeli forces retaliated with planes and armored forces, killing five Palestinians.

Both sides had said they hoped to avoid a further escalation in violence, but the latest air strike, which targeted gunmen from Hamas's armed wing near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, was a sign that fighting was carrying on.

Israeli forces on April 7 struck targets throughout the densely populated territory, including Hamas positions, smuggling tunnels along the border with Egypt and Gaza's derelict airport. Gaza militants rained 45 rockets and mortars down on southern Israel.