Israeli helicopter gunships launched three air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, the first air attacks since Israel's pullout from the territory last week.

The air strikes, which Israel said targeted weapons facilities used by Palestinian militants, came after militants mounted several rocket attacks on the country from Gaza since Friday.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which claimed responsibility for many of the rocket attacks, blamed Israel for a blast that killed at least 19 Palestinians and injured 85 others Friday evening at a rally in northern Gaza.

But Israel denied any involvement in the blast and Palestinian officials said Hamas itself had accidentally caused the blast.

Source: Xinhua