21.   Eyewitnesses said an explosion, apparently a Palestinian mortar shell exploding at a Jewish settlement, set off the firefight near Khan Yunis.

22.   Following the Palestinian mortar attack Tuesday, Israel retaliated by firing dozens of rockets at five areas in Gaza.

23.   Frustration appeared to be building up among Israelis and their leaders over the inability to stop Palestinian mortar attacks.

24.   Frustration appeared to be building among Israelis and their leaders over the inability to stop Palestinian mortar attacks.

25.   He added that Palestinian mortar attacks against Israel should also cease.

26.   He said Israeli troops would continue to respond to Palestinian mortar fire and to strike against militants suspected of planning attacks on Israelis.

27.   He ridiculed descriptions of Palestinian mortar attacks as excessive.

28.   In recent weeks, Israeli troops entered Palestinian territory dozens of times, razing police stations and homes, usually in response to Palestinian mortar fire on Israeli settlements.

29.   In the past three months, Palestinian mortar fire has hit several Israeli communities just outside the Gaza border.

30.   Israel fired two surface-to-surface missiles at a Palestinian police post in the Gaza Strip on Saturday in response to Palestinian mortar fire.