Israel launches air raids on Gaza

Israeli helicopters have attacked several targets in the Gaza Strip, including offices of the armed wing of the Fatah movement.

There were no reports of casualties after the three overnight air raids.

They followed rocket attacks on Israeli towns, which Israel blamed on the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the armed offshoot of Fatah.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian man was killed overnight by Israeli troops in the West Bank town of Nablus.

Israeli military sources said soldiers exchanged fire with gunmen during an overnight raid to arrest wanted militants in the town, adding that two Israeli soldiers were wounded.

Palestinian witnesses said the dead man was not known to be linked to any militant group, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Gaza City strikes

Two of the Israeli air raids targeted offices of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Gaza City. The third raid was against a helicopter launch pad.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades are the armed wing of the Fatah movement of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel blamed the group for firing several rockets at Israeli towns on Thursday.

One of the rockets hit a factory near the town of Ashkelon, setting it ablaze.

Another landed in the town of Sderot, but causing no injuries, the Israeli army said.