Toll rises to 159 in Israeli air strikes in Gaza

Gaza, July 13 (IANS) The deaths of Palestinians in the Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip climbed to 159 Sunday, officials said.

The operations began July 8. Israel said Palestinian militants fired about 90 rockets from the Gaza Strip into its territory Saturday, BBC reported.

Seventeen members of one family died in an Israeli missile strike Saturday night.

Israel said it was targeting Hamas militants and facilities, including the homes of senior operatives. However, the UN has estimated that 77 percent of the people killed in Gaza have been civilians.