51.   The Israeli military said the attack was in response to Palestinian mortar fire in Gaza.

52.   The Israeli army said it shelled Palestinian targets in response to a Palestinian mortar attack on a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip.

53.   The Palestinian mortars have a range of about a mile.

54.   The strike was retaliation for Palestinian mortar fire on a Jewish settlement in Gaza a day earlier.

55.   The rocket attacks came in response to Palestinian mortar fire on three Jewish settlements and an Israeli communal farm on the border with the Gaza Strip.

56.   This came after exchanges of fire and Palestinian mortar fire at Jewish settlements.

57.   Two Palestinians were killed in the assault, which Israel said came in response to persistent Palestinian mortar attacks on Jewish settlements.

58.   Two Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in the assault, which Israel says came in response to persistent Palestinian mortar attacks on Jewish settlements.

59.   Two Palestinians were killed, two dozen wounded and hundreds left homeless in the assault which Israel says came in response to persistent Palestinian mortar attacks on Jewish settlements.

60.   Violence escalated late Monday with the Israeli military retaliating for a Palestinian mortar attack by pounding parts of the Gaza with shells and rockets.