Israel warns Gaza citizens to evacuate homes before strikes

JERUSALEM, (Xinhua) - The Israeli military warned residents in northern Gaza Strip late on Saturday night to evacuate their homes "for their own safety," local media reported.

"The evacuation allows greater freedom of operation in the area, " a senior military officer was quoted by Ha'aretz daily as saying, adding that most of the rockets fired into Israel were launched from Gaza's north. He said the military planned a massive assault to the area, as Operation Protective Edge entered into the fifth day.

Over the past 24 hours, Israel has struck about 158 sites in the Gaza Strip, an army statement said. The Israeli air raids have killed at least 128 people in Gaza, including 24 children and 18 women, the Gaza-based Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights said, adding that some 635 houses have been destroyed or damaged.

Also on Saturday, Gaza militants launched several rocket attacks against Israel throughout the day, including two rounds of attack on Tel Aviv after a warning from Hamas' armed wing al- Qassam Brigades.

Late on Saturday night sirens also wailed in the northern Israeli town of Naharia. The Israeli military later confirmed that at least two rockets fired from Lebanon hit open fields north of Naharia. No damage or injuries have been reported so far.

Earlier on Friday, the army reported a similar incident of rockets launched from southern Lebanon hitting an open area in Israel. No group has claimed responsibility for it.