Netanyahu threatens Hamas over violence

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday threatened Gaza's Hamas rulers saying they "were the next in line" if the new round of rocket fire continued.

Since he spoke, the Islamic Jihad militant group in the Gaza Strip announced a unilateral cease-fire Monday evening to end two days of heavy fighting with Israel.

In a short statement, the Iranian-backed group said it had completed its "retaliation" for Israel's killing of three members.

But it said it would respond to any further Israeli "aggression".

Earlier on Monday, Gaza militants had been resuming their intense bombardment of southern Israel, with some rockets slipping through Israel's Iron Dome defence system and one landing in the yard of a kindergarten.

Netanyahu talked in front of one of the Iron Domes in Southern Israel.

There was no word of casualties, but the second day of violence threatened to unleash a new round of hostilities just a week before Israel heads to elections.