Sending the right message?

Israeli missiles hit PA compound
from: www.bbcnews.com

Mahmoud Abbas has condemned the strike on his Gaza offices
Israeli aircraft have fired missiles into the Palestinian Authority's Gaza City compound, near the offices of President Mahmoud Abbas.
The two missile attacks wounded two Palestinians and left deep craters near the Palestinian Authority offices.

Mr Abbas, who was reportedly at his offices in the West Bank at the time, has condemned the attacks.

Israel said it hit Mr Abbas' office and another site in north Gaza in response to Palestinian missile attacks.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said they wanted to "send a message" to the Palestinians that such attacks would not be tolerated, the AFP news agency reported.

Mr Abbas' spokesman condemned the attacks and called on the US and the West to intervene.

"This escalation will lead the area to more violence and instability," Nabil Abu Rdeneh said.

Gaza strike

Israeli military said they also struck an open area of northern Gaza used by militants to fire crude rockets into Israel.

Palestinian security sources said a man standing in a field in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza had been killed by Israeli fire.

Seven people in a nearby house were injured in the same attack, Palestinian sources said.

One of the injured was reportedly a six-month-old baby.

It is not clear if the Israelis and Palestinians were referring to the same incident.

An Israeli military spokeswoman told the Reuters news agency: "There was no intent to hit any homes and we have no knowledge that we struck any."