GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – An Israeli air strike on a smuggling tunnel between the Gaza Strip and Egypt on Tuesday killed three Palestinians and wounded seven, a Palestinian Health Ministry official said.
The official, Dr. Moaiya Hassanain, said the men were all smugglers caught in the tunnel during the pre-dawn Israeli strike.
An Israeli military statement said the air force struck in retaliation for a cross-border mortar attack Monday into southern Israel, in which an Israeli soldier was lightly wounded.
The Israeli government has pledged a military response to every attack.
The military said Palestinians in Gaza have fired about 220 rockets and mortar shells at Israel since it ended a three-week war against the militants on Jan. 18.