The Air Force struck a vehicle containing a Qassam launch cell in northern Gaza. IDF sources say that the cell attempted to fire rockets at Israel, and was hit by the missile after entering the vehicle.
Video: Reuters
Palestinian sources say that there are a number of casualties, some of those killed.
The number and condition of those injured is unknown. The members of the cell are from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
On Saturday afternoon, the IDF bombarded areas in northern Gaza from which Qassams were fired at Israel. The shelling was carried out from the ground and the sea, using missile boats.
Bodies of Palestinians killed in IDF strike (Photo: Reuters)
The strike began when the Southern Command identified a vehicle making its way to the Sajaya neighborhood in northern Gaza. Two terrorists got out of the car and attempted to fire Qassam rockets at Israel. A short time later the vehicle returned to the area in order to pick up the cell members, and when it became clear that they were members of a Qassam launching cell, the order was given to the Air Force to fire a missile at the vehicle and strike it.
Week of many rocket attacks
The strike at the cell comes after a week in which a large number of rockets have been fired at Negev communities in southern Israel, and after the IDF carried out a targeted strike on Friday.
Six Palestinians were killed in Gaza from that night time aerial attack, including a senior rocket engineer for the Popular Resistance Committee, Iyad Abu al-Aynayn.
IDF helicopters fired a number of rockets at the Palestinian vehicle which drove into an area used for training by the Salah al-Din Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Committee.
The group was set up by former Fatah members, but is more identified in recent times with Hamas.
Army sources said that the target attacked was a military camp in every sense, distanced from settled areas.
The IAF also attacked three access routes overnight used by Qassam launch cells in northern Gaza. The IDF said the aim of the attacks was to make the movements of terrorists more difficult.
Ali Waked contributed to this report
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