TEL AVIV/GAZA, September 26 (RIA Novosti) - Israel's Air Force twice attacked Palestinian rocket launch sites in northern Gaza Wednesday, the Israeli Army press service said.

The Israeli air strikes, which, according to Palestinian radio, wounded one Palestinian teenager, came in response to five rockets launched at southern Israel on Tuesday by Palestinian militants.

Three of the rockets exploded near population centers, but there were no reports of casualties. Responsibility for the attacks was claimed by al-Quds Brigades, a military wing of the Islamic Jihad movement.

Israeli troops continue their operations in the West Bank, where last night they detained seven Palestinians suspected of involvement in terrorist activity.

Prospects of a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians were dealt a heavy blow in June, when the Islamist group Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by Israel, seized control of the Gaza Strip in a violent coup, leaving Abbas and his Fatah forces in control of only the West Bank.