Minst 12 palestinier dog i en israelisk flygräd mot Gaza på fredagen, meddelar palestinska sjukvårdsmyndigheter. Ytterligare minst 19 personer skadades.  Räden föregicks av palestinska raketattacker mot Israel.  En av palestinierna som dog i attacken var ledaren för PRC Zuheir al-Quessi, meddelar palestinska källor. Enligt Israel stod han bakom tidigare attacker mot landet. Strax efteråt hotade PRC att hämnas attacken.  Enligt Israels armé skadades fyra israeliska medborgare i flera raketattacker från Gaza på fredagen.  Israel och Hamas, som styr i Gaza, har formellt vapenvila, men en del av de palestinska grupperna struntar i den. De israeliska trupperna drog sig ur Gaza år 2005. (FNB)  FNB-Reuters-AFP

The midday attack marked the highest profile Israeli strike against the coastal strip in several months and immediately set off a violent escalation after a period of relative calm.... The Israeli military insisted it did not want an escalation but said it was "prepared to defend the residents of Israel". But it appeared to be getting ready for the worst, issuing a warning to Israeli residents living within 40 kilometers (25 miles) fof Gaza to stay close to home Friday night and refrain from holding major outdoor events on Saturday. Israel said Hamas was using other groups to carry out attacks in its place and warned that Gaza's rulers "will bear the consequences of these actions" if an escalation took place.