Israel launched air strikes early Thursday in the Gaza Strip, one day after a deadly suicide bombing attack killed five people in a northern Israeli city, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported.

Israeli airplanes struck northern and southern Gaza, causing no casualties, the military said.

The strikes came after a suicide bomber blew himself up in an open air market in the northern coastal city of Hadera on Wednesday, killing five people and wounding some 30 others.

Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in retaliation for the killing of its top military commander in the West Bank on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz also approved a major military assault Wednesday night in northern West Bank and northern Gaza Strip to strike back on Jihad, a radical militant group sworn to Israel's destruction.

Wednesday's attack was the worst since Israel completed its withdrawal of soldiers and settlers from the Gaza Strip on Sept. 12, ending a 38-year occupation in the area.

Prior to the attack, Palestinian militants also resumed rocket fire from northern Gaza against Israeli targets. The pending Israeli military assault was also aimed at preventing militants from firing rockets.

The flare-up of violence shattered a de facto truce between Israel and Palestinians since early this year and dashed hopes that the long-stalled Mideast peace process could be revived.

Source: Xinhua