Israeli artillery fired about 150 shells into the Gaza strip over the weekend, some from gunboats for the first time, in the largest barrage against the territory since the withdrawal of Jewish settlers and the army in September.
The military said the assault, aimed principally at open land, was in response to the continued firing of rudimentary rockets from Gaza by Palestinian factions.
The air force also hit a number of buildings in northern Gaza which it said sheltered rocket launchers. They included a casino complex under construction and partly owned by Israelis.
The assault did not stop Palestinian factions from launching at least six rockets into Israel, but neither they nor the army's barrage caused casualties.
The air force also dropped leaflets over Gaza city that read: "Where are the terror organizations leading you? How much longer are you going to allow terrorists to control your lives and your future? The military response will worsen as long as the firing continues."
The confrontation came amid growing tension between Hamas and its Fatah rivals in Gaza following the assassination of a leading Palestinian militant and gun battles, and under rising foreign pressure on the new Palestinian government.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas on Sunday criticized Washington for severing ties with the Palestinian Authority over the installation of his government last week.
"This government was elected in a free and honest election, and according to the democratic principles the American administration is calling for," Haniyeh said.
"We believe this is a punishment of the Palestinian people because of its democratic choice," he said.
Washington ordered its diplomats and groups funded by the US to sever contact with the Palestinian Authority now that Hamas controls every Cabinet post.
But the US is to retain contacts with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and aides on the grounds that they are representatives of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which is outside government.
Israel has always recognized the PLO, not the Palestinian Authority, as its official negotiating partner, even though there have not been any talks for five years. Israel has also broken off contact with the Palestinian police.
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