Hamas militant killed in Israeli airstrike

Gaza, July 8 (IANS) A Palestinian militant affiliated with the Islamic Hamas movement was killed Tuesday in an Israeli air strike on Central Gaza Strip, security and medical sources said.

Security sources told Xinhua that a Hamas operative was killed in an Israeli air strike that targeted a military site used by the Hamas's armed wing near Nossairat City in central Gaza Strip.

The dead militant was identified as Rashad Yassin, who was in his twenties.

Medical sources said Yassin was instantly killed and one of his colleagues was critically injured.

Early Tuesday, Israel launched a military operation dubbed Operation Protective Edge in order to stop rocket fire from Gaza.

Tit-for-tat violence between Israel and militants in Gaza has increased in recent weeks as hundreds of projectiles were fired into Israel.

In response, Israel carried out dozens of air strikes at military sites, killing nine Palestinian operatives on Monday.

Palestinian security sources said Israeli forces hit at least 60 targets across Gaza since Operation Protective Edge began early Tuesday.

Israeli media reported that dozens of rockets fired from Gaza landed in Israel while Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted a number of projectiles.