Israeli airstrike hits Gaza after rocket fire

The Israeli military said on Monday it identified 14 rockets fired in the hour-long spree, of which it intercepted 12.

Shortly after, the military began striking militants sites in Gaza.

Gaza militants resumed their intense bombardment of southern Israel on Monday, with some rockets slipping through Israel's vaunted Iron Dome defense system and one landing in the yard of a kindergarten.

There was no word of casualties, but the second day of violence threatened to unleash a new round of hostilities just a week before Israel heads to elections.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Gaza's Hamas rulers with a "war" if the new round of rocket fire continued, ramping up his rhetoric amid the stretch drive of his campaign.

The Islamic Jihad militant group fired at least 20 rockets on Sunday after Israeli forces killed a Palestinian militant who had tried to place a bomb along the Israel-Gaza barrier fence, and then removed his body with a bulldozer. The image outraged Palestinians who fired rockets. Israel responded by striking militants targets in Gaza and Syria.