reuters

Israel said Palestinian militants fired some 60 rockets towards the south of the country on Wednesday.

It was the heaviest such barrage since 2012.

Israel retaliated with air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had warned of a 'forceful' response.

(SOUNDBITE)(Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"At this moment the Israeli army is responding with force to the firing upon Israeli citizens by the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip. If there won't be quiet in the south there will be noise in Gaza, and that's an understatement. I call on residents of the south to act according to instructions. The Israeli military will get the job done."

Islamic Jihad said on Wednesday it had fired 90 rockets towards Israel.

It said the barrage was an operation called 'Breaking the Silence'.

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