Israel hits Hamas targets as Gaza militants fire rockets

By JOSEF FEDERMAN
Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli aircraft struck a series of targets in the Gaza Strip while Palestinian militants launched rockets into Israel in the third consecutive night of fighting between the sides. The violence early Monday took place shortly before Israel’s prime minister, Naftali Bennett, was heading to Egypt. The visit was expected to focus on Egyptian efforts to broker a long-term truce between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers in the wake of an 11-day war last May. Those efforts appear to have come to a standstill in recent weeks. Tensions have further risen after last week’s escape from an Israeli prison by six Palestinian inmates.