Rocket Fired at Israel; IDF Targets Hamas Positions
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip fired one rocket at the eastern part of the Eshkol regional council late Wednesday night.
An Iron Dome missile defense batteries fired an interceptor at the rocket but the interception failed and the rocket landed in an open area. No injuries or property damage were reported.
In response, the IDF confirmed early Thursday morning that its fighter jets struck eight Hamas-related targets across the Gaza Strip.
“The targets were a military compound in the northern Gaza Strip, a training camp and a weapons production and storage site in the southern Gaza Strip,” the IDF said in a statement. “The attack was carried out in response to the rocket fire into Israeli territory overnight.
“The Hamas terrorist organization is responsible for everything happening in and out of the Gaza Strip, and it will bear the consequences for the terrorist acts carried out against the citizens of Israel. The IDF is prepared for a variety of scenarios and is determined to continue its mission to protect the citizens of Israel,” it said.
Speaking to Army Radio on Thursday morning about the incident, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said that a confrontation with Hamas is inevitable.
“Neither the fuel nor salaries interest them, Hamas leaders clearly say they want the siege to be removed,” he said, adding that “every stone must be turned over before any confrontation, so they will not say that I’m dragging Israel into battle because of my own agenda.”
Wednesday night’s incident was the latest in a string of exchanges between the IDF and terror elements in Gaza.
Earlier on Wednesday, IDF aircrafts attacked two Hamas positions in the southern Gaza Strip.
According to IDF, the IAF attack took place following incendiary balloons launches that were taking place from the site. No Palestinian casualties were reported.
There were at least nine fires reported on Wednesday in the Gaza Belt region as a result of incendiary balloons sent from Strip. This is the largest number in the past ten days.
This comes despite the fact that Israel allowed the supply of Qatari funded fuel to enter the Strip on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, also on Wednesday, an Egyptian intelligence delegation arrived in the Gaza Strip through the Erez crossing. However, the group were without Egyptian intelligence chief, General Abbas Kamel who was unable to come for technical reasons. This is the second time he has canceled the visit to Gaza.
