IAF bombs 9 Gaza tunnels; 7 Palestinians reportedly wounded

Israel Air Force jets bombed six tunnels in the Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt on Tuesday, and three more early Wednesday, in retaliation for Qassam rocket and mortar shell fire from the territory into Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces spokesperson's office said that secondary explosions could be seen when one of the tunnels was targeted, indicating the presence of ammunition inside it.

Gaza medical officials reported that seven people had been hurt in the attack.

On Monday, Palestinian militants fired a rocket from the Gaza Strip into Ashkelon, prompting the city's parents to close down schools, arguing that the school buildings in the city were not protected from rocket attacks.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is visiting Israel, on Tuesday said that "there is no doubt that any nation, including Israel, cannot stand idly by while its territory and people are subjected to rocket attacks," criticizing the rocket fire as cynical.