Agence France-Presse,
JERUSALEM (AFP): Thirty-six Israeli soldiers were wounded Tuesday by two rockets fired into Israel by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, a military spokesman and medics said.
The rocket struck the Zikim base located north of the Gaza Strip, said the spokesman.
There was no immediate information on the extent of the injuries to the soldiers, who were evacuated to hospitals by two helicopters and around 20 ambulances.
The toll is the worst from Palestinian rocket attacks in months.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned last week that Israel would “without hesitation and without pity” launch counterstrikes against militants who fire rockets from the Gaza Strip, which has been under the control of the Islamist movement Hamas since June.
Militants in Gaza regularly fire rockets and mortar rounds at Israel and while most fall in open spaces, some strike populated areas and have occasionally caused casualties.
Israel has been unable to stamp out rocket fire from Gaza, despite launching pinpoint air strikes and regular incursions into the crowded and impoverished territory from where it withdrew settlers and soldiers in 2005 after a 38-year presence.
