Eight Die in Israeli Missile Attack on Home of Hamas Legislator

Israel intensified its attacks on Gaza last night with an airstrike on the home of a Hamas political leader which killed eight of his relatives and neighbors, and immediately drew threats of reprisals.

The Islamist group called on its military wing to "respond with all means to these crimes", after an Israeli missile struck the home of Khalil al-Haya, a member of the Palestinian legislative council, who was attending ceasefire talks between his party and the rival Fatah movement.

On arriving at Gaza City's Shifa hospital Mr Haya told reporters: "We will go ahead despite the challenges, despite the martyrs, despite the pain that I am suffering and my people are suffering."

Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said the attack was a sign that Israel was targeting "everyone - civilians and leaders. This escalation is very serious. All options are open for responding to this."

A spokeswoman for the Israeli army said the house was not the target for the airstrike. "The airforce attacked a Hamas terror cell and we hit it. We are checking other claims," she said.

Shortly after the airstrike, an Israeli tank's shell hit a house in northern Gaza, killing a child, and injuring five others.

Earlier, Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, had said Israel was considering stepping up its "response" to rocket attacks fired into southern Israel from Gaza. Israel's extra measures could include the assassination of Hamas leaders or a deeper invasion of Gazan territory. Israeli amour and troops have already moved a short distance into the Gaza Strip. At the same meeting, Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the rightwing National Union party, said if Hamas were not dismantled then the government would have to be dismantled.

Israel has killed more than 30 Palestinians, including civilians, since Hamas began launching rockets at the Israeli town of Sderot and its environs last week. A total of 120 have been fired so far.

Some believe the rocket attacks were a crude attempt to goad Israeli into reprisals and help unite feuding Palestinian factions who have fought deadly battles recently. On the ground in Gaza, a ceasefire between Fatah and Hamas, the fifth in recent months, appeared to be holding last night. Gunmen pulled out of buildings they had occupied in the past week and shops and schools reopened. Mr Barhoum said he expected the ceasefire deal that was reached on Saturday to stick because of Israel's military action.

Mr Olmert remains under pressure from within Israel to resign over his bad management of the Lebanon war last year. So far he has resisted pressure to invade Gaza, which has never succeeded in preventing rocket fire in the past.