Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ordered continuous military strikes on Palestinian resistance fighters in response to rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.

The announcement comes after up to 12 Israeli air strikes over Gaza City on Saturday and Sunday left at least two people dead and up to 25 others, including children, injured.

"I have issued orders that there be no restrictions regarding the use of all means to strike at the terrorists, members of terrorist organisations, and their equipment and their hideouts," Sharon told cabinet ministers.

"We don't intend here to stage a one-time action, but intend
to carry out a continued action, whose aim is to hurt the
terrorists and not to let up," he said.

"We should use every means at our disposal to stop this phenomenon." 

The strikes began on Saturday afternoon and continued into the early hours of Sunday, which the Israeli army described as a "prolonged" operation against Hamas which fired about 30 Qassam rockets at Israeli towns.

The rocket barrage, which lightly wounded six Israelis, was the resistance group's first attack since the Gaza pullout.

Hamas said it fired the rockets in retaliation for the explosion at a Gaza rally on Friday which it blamed on Israel.

That explosion killed 15 people, including its fighters, and injured scores of others. 

Women, children injured

While two Hamas fighters were killed in the Israeli strike on Saturday afternoon, 15 people, including children, were injured when Israeli warplanes struck a school in crowded Gaza City early on Sunday.

The blast struck the al-Arkam school, established by the late founder of Hamas, Shaikh Ahmad Yassin, which is situated in the Tufah neighbourhood - a densely populated area and a Hamas stronghold.

The blast collapsed part of the school and caused damage to at least five nearby homes.

Hospital officials said women and children were among the wounded, and one person was in serious condition. 

Hopsital sources said a 40-day-old baby was among the injured.

Electricity in the neighbourhood was cut, and dozens of people ran into the streets after the attack.

More strikes

 Soon after, in another strike, Israeli helicopters fired three missiles in the northern Gaza Strip.

The army targeted foundries and metal workshops. 

Israel, however, said the targets were a weapons-storage facility in the Jabalya refugee camp used by the Popular Resistance Committees.

These claims are denied by the buildings' proprietors, reports Aljazeera's correspondent.

A building in Bait Hanun housing the offices of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine was also attacked.

Residents in Bait Hanun said the PFLP building suffered heavy damage, but said no one was believed to be inside at the time. 

Hamas targeted

Earlier on Sunday, a senior Israeli commander said a "prolonged" operation against the Hamas group had begun, and hinted that Hamas leaders could be targeted.

Major General Yisrael Ziv, the army's head of operations, said "it was decided to launch a prolonged and constant attack on the Hamas."

He said the attacks would target "all faces" of Hamas.

Asked whether the lives of Hamas' leaders were in danger, he said: "Let them decide for themselves."

Israel killed dozens of Hamas fighters during four years of fighting, but had halted the practice since a February ceasefire declaration.

Israeli security officials said that "Operation First Rain" would include artillery fire, air strikes and other targeted attacks.

The operation will grow in intensity, leading up to a ground operation unless the Palestinian security takes action to halt the rocket attacks, or Hamas ends the attacks itself.

Israel's closure of all Palestinian areas, imposed on Saturday, would continue.

The small number of labourers allowed to work in Israel also would not be allowed through Gaza border crossings and West Bank checkpoints.    

Criticism 

Earlier, Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Shaath denounced the strikes as an "act of criminal aggression".
He also accused Israel of trying to destroy a temporary ceasefire that has largely held since February.

Hamas vowed to avenge the attack, calling on its members to strike Israel "in every spot of our occupied land".

While respecting the ceasefire agreed to in February, the group maintains it has the right to respond to violations by Israel.

Egypt called on both parties to stop the escalation.

Foreign Minister Ahmed Abdul Gheit urged Palestinian factions to keep the truce. Criticising Israel, he described the bombing of the strip as a violation of international law.

Arrests

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Israeli army carried out a massive sweep of arrests, targeting activists and political leaders of Hamas throughout the West Bank.

Palestinian sources reported the arrests of as many as 230 activists including teachers, students, doctors, journalists and professionals in the regions of Hebron, Bethlehem, Ram Allah, Nablus and Tulkarm.

Hamas chief spokesman in the West Bank, Hasan Yusuf, was among the detainees, sources say.

It was not clear if the latest arrests are intended to prevent Hamas from taking part in the January elections of the Palestinian legislative council.

Many of the detainees are believed to be actual or potential candidates for the upcoming elections.

PHOTO CAPTION

Palestinians pass a baby over the border wall as they cross between the Rafah Refugee Camp, in the southern Gaza Strip and Egypt, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2005. (AP)