Israeli air force hits Gaza after rocket attack, two wounded

Israeli aircraft attacked at least four targets in the Gaza Strip early on Saturday, wounding two people in an apparent retaliation for a rocket strike on Israel, officials said.

Two explosions were heard in Gaza City, one north of the city and one explosion in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis. All the missiles appeared to land in open fields, Palestinian medics and witnesses said.

Two people, including a child, were lightly wounded, medics said.

An Israeli army spokesman confirmed aircraft had attacked Gaza, but gave no further details.

Israel routinely retaliates for rocket attacks from Gaza and these airstrikes came after a rocket hit the southern Israeli town of Netivot on Thursday without causing casualties.

It marked the latest violence along Gaza's border, which has been mostly quiet since a war Israel launched on the Islamist Hamas in Gaza on December 27, 2008 in response to rocket fire ended with mutual ceasefires on January 18.

The ceasefires have largely held, despite violations by both sides.