Israel launches airstrikes on Gaza, leaving one dead

Israel launched air strikes on Gaza late Wednesday, killing one Hamas militant, after dozens of rockets were fired from the enclave into its territory.

Injuries were also reported on both sides.

Smoke plumes could be seen rising from Gaza City after Israel launched the strikes. 

A Palestinian was killed in northern Gaza, while at least six were wounded in raids targeting sites across the strip, the Gazan health ministry said.

Hamas, the Islamist group that runs the Strip, named the dead man as Ali Ghandour, saying he was a member of the group's armed wing.

The strikes came after Hamas fired at least two dozen rockets that hit the Israeli town of Sderot, near the Gaza separation fence. 

One person was lightly wounded by shrapnel, the United Hatzalah medical service said. 

The majority of some 70 rockets hit open areas while 11 were intercepted, Israel's military said.  

The rockets came after two Hamas fighters were killed by Israeli fire on Tuesday. Hamas warned Israel - with which it has fought three wars since 2008 - it would pay for the attack.

The escalation comes after the Hamas leadership convened for a rare meeting in Gaza on Friday. The gathering had raised hopes a deal for a lasting truce with Israel, with the backing of Egypt and the United Nations.

Gaza's residents have been protesting every week since 30 March at Israel's border fence, which have been violently suppressed.  

At least 158 Palestinians have died and thousands injured since the protests began.  

The UN has warned that Gaza would be "unlivable" by 2020 if Israel's decade-old blockade of the Strip continues.  

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