The Israeli army struck at targets in the Gaza Strip after a barrage of mortars from Gaza was fired at southern communities on Tuesday evening. Four Hamas members and three civilians were reported killed during an Israeli air force strike on a Hamas police station in the southern Gaza Strip. Three civilians were hurt when Israeli troops operating in Khan Younis accidentally fired a missile at a residence instead of at a Qassam rocket-firing cell. The army attributed the mistake to a "technical error" and said it was investigating the incident. Prior to the Israeli action mortars landed in Netiv Ha’asara, a community near the Israel-Gaza border. A woman and baby escaped injury when one shell hit the house they were in. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Tuesday that, "Every passing day brings us closer to a broad operation in Gaza."