Israeli airstrikes kill at least 10 in Gaza

Israeli security officials said some of the militants killed in the airstrike had trained in Iran and Syria, without elaborating.

Later Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza, a frequent launching ground of the rocket squads, killed two people. Palestinian officials said one of the dead was a civilian farm worker.

The body of another Palestinian militant killed in central Gaza overnight was brought to the hospital in Gaza on Wednesday morning.

Talks between sides encouraged
A poll published in Israel on Wednesday, before the fatal rocket attack, said a majority of Israelis favor talks with Hamas to stop the barrages and win release of a soldier captured in 2006. Israel's government has ruled out talks with Hamas, which is sworn to Israel's destruction.

In the West Bank on Wednesday, undercover Israeli soldiers killed a militant and wounded a bystander in a daylight raid in Nablus, Palestinians said. The dead man belonged to a militant offshoot of the Fatah movement led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Israeli military confirmed it carried out an operation but gave no details.

In addition to its military strikes, Israel has imposed tough economic sanctions on Hamas-ruled Gaza, allowing only basic humanitarian goods into the area.

The sanctions have caused widespread shortages. On Wednesday, the area's main water provider urged residents to boil drinking water, citing a shortage of purifying chlorine.

The Coastal Municipality Water Utility said there was a "major concern over a health disaster due to possible contamination of the drinking water" and appealed to the international community for help.

An Israeli military spokesman said Palestinians did not make a request for chlorine until Wednesday.

More from msnbc.com Black workers' crisis may linger after upturn Afghan scouts learn to ‘be prepared!’ First Read: Obama faces 'historic week' Scoop: Some aren’t surprised by Tiger Woods mess Share pics of your decorated Christmas tree On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM MIDEAST & N. AFRICA

Mideast & N. Africa Section Front

Outgoing IAEA chief leaves complex legacy Mideast markets nosedive amid Dubai woes Key adviser: U.S. did not expect to stabilize Iraq Iran holds yacht with 5 U.K. nationals   Muslim women search for a space at hajj   Experts: Iran enrichment plans largely bluster Mideast & N. Africa Section Front   Add Mideast & N. Africa headlines to your news reader: