Member of Gaza Rocket Squad Killed in Israeli Airstrike

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip —

A member of a Gaza rocket squad was killed and two others were wounded Saturday in what a Palestinian medic said was an Israeli airstrike.

However, the Israeli military said it did not carry out any operations in Gaza on Saturday.

The dead man was identified as 25-year-old Mahmoud Fattouh, a member of the militant group Islamic Jihad, said Dr. Moawiya Hassanain, a Gaza health official. Two Islamic Jihad members were wounded in the incident near the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya.

The squad was targeted as it fired rockets toward Israel, according to Hassanain and Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Ahmed.

The Israeli military said at least five rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel on Saturday, causing no injuries or damage.

Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers separately declared a cease-fire Jan. 18, after a three-week Israeli military offensive in Gaza. However, talks on a durable truce have hit a snag, and rocket fire and airstrikes continue. Islamic Jihad, far smaller than Hamas, is most involved in rocket fire.