GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- A four-month-old truce frayed Thursday as Palestinian militants fired mortars and rockets at Jewish targets for a second straight day and Israeli security chiefs threatened retaliation.
Senior Palestinian and Israeli officials met to try to defuse the escalating violence and protect a cease-fire agreement seen as a key to renewing peace negotiations.
Dozens of projectiles fell on Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip, and a mortar shell exploded at an Israeli army base just outside Gaza, causing some damage but no injuries. Two rockets hit the Karni crossing point into Israel, the military said.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz called military commanders in for consultations, and participants reported that he warned Israel could resume targeting anyone seen about to fire mortars - as it did Wednesday, killing a Hamas member.