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Israeli air and ground forces launched a series of attacks on Christmas Eve on targets across the Gaza Strip, killing a young girl and wounding 10 other people.
The Israeli military claimed that aircraft, tanks and infantry targeted "terror sites" in Gaza, including a weapons manufacturing facility, "terror infrastructure" and a concealed rocket launcher.
Palestinian officials reported at least 16 Israeli attacks.
Hamas Health Ministry official Ashraf al-Kidra said an air strike in central Gaza killed a three-year-old girl and wounded three relatives, including two young siblings. In all, 10 people were wounded, he said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri condemned what he called the "cowardly" Israeli attacks.
"The occupation will not terrify the Palestinian people by these actions and will not halt its readiness to respond to any attacks on Gaza," he said.
Israel launched the air strikes shortly after a Gaza sniper shot an Israeli civilian labourer working on the border fence.
Meanwhile, an Israeli official said on Christmas Day that the government would likely will announce plans for settlement construction next week.
Israel's Channel Two TV said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to announce "massive construction" next week.
Palestinian official Wasil Abu Yousif said it was evidence that Israel is "not serious" about pursuing peace.
"It's clear to everyone now that the Israeli government is killing the peace process."
Elsewhere a trio of Israeli actors refused to perform in a theatre in a West Bank Jewish settlement yesterday.
The Cameri and Beit Lessin theatres said that three actors had refused to perform in Ariel, a settlement deep inside the West Bank.
One of the actors, Sarit Vino-Elad, said she could not bring herself to set foot in a theatre built on occupied land and which posed an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians.
"It's my own little protest against a government policy that continues to build settlements," she said.
"They are trying to make Ariel part of the consensus, but as far as I am concerned it is not legitimate.
"You want me to perform there? Solve the problem."
