New Gaza rocket threatens truce after Netanyahu warning

Palestinian militants fired a rocket at Israel late Tuesday despite a ceasefire announced by Hamas, hours after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said he was prepared for further military action in Gaza.

The flare-up began early Monday with a rare long-distance rocket strike from the Gaza Strip that hit a house north of Tel Aviv, wounding seven Israelis.

The Israeli military hit back with a series of air strikes across the enclave into the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday and Palestinian militants launched new rockets despite Hamas claiming Egypt had brokered a ceasefire.

Calm returned shortly after dawn and prevailed throughout the day.

The Israeli army announced that restrictions it had imposed on civilians -- including cancelling school and prohibiting gatherings -- had been lifted.

There were no immediate reports of any damage or casualties from the latest projectile, which the army said was fired at around 8:00 pm (1800 GMT).

Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and other groups said "the rocket that hit near Ashkelon was the work of an individual and the factions are committed to calm" as long as Israel is.

A security source in Gaza said an air strike hit a Hamas military base in Khan Yunis following the projectile launch at Israel.

There were no deaths on either side, but seven Israelis and seven Palestinians were wounded in the escalation at a highly sensitive time ahead of Israel's April 9 elections.

Israel's retaliatory strikes began around the same time Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump in Washington.

Netanyahu, who cut short his US visit, said "we are prepared to do a lot more".

Netanyahu had cut short his visit to Washington to handle the response after a rare rocket strike landed near Tel Aviv Monday, injuring seven Israelis, just two weeks ahead of elections.

Israel hit back with airstrikes including on the office of Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, with an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire failing to take hold.

Monday's rocket comes just days ahead of the first anniversary on March 30 of Palestinian protests and clashes along the Gaza Strip's border with Israel.

An informal truce between Hamas and Israel had led to relative calm along the border, but recent weeks have seen another uptick in violence.

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