The Israel Air Force attacked a car traveling in the northern Gaza Strip Friday afternoon, which the Israel Defense Force claimed was carrying a group of Palestinians planning to fire Qassam rockets at Israel.
Palestinian sources reported that three Palestinians were wounded in the strike.
The Palestinians reported that the car was attacked from the air while it was driving east of Gaza City. The identity of the Palestinians hurt and there organizational affiliation were still unknown. According to the report, at least one missile was fired at the car.
In addition, the IDF launched an air strike on the office of senior Hamas member Said Siam in the northern Gaza Strip, which the army claimed has been serving as a meeting place for planning to directing terror activities, as well as several access routes in the central Strip.
IDF officials reported that the strike was aimed at minimizing the chances of moving kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit from one place to another.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Office said that “the IDF will continue to operate on all the operational channels against Palestinian infrastructures in a bid to safely return Corporal Gilad Shalit and halt terror operations and the firing of rockets at territories of the State of Israel.”
'Israeli crimes will only strengthen determination'
In the past 24 hours, the Air Force struck 30 destinations across the Strip, including the office of the Palestinian interior minister in Gaza. A Jihad activist was killed in the strike. In addition, the army attacked offices of al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and a Hamas training camp.
The Palestinian Interior Ministry and the Palestinian National Security declared high alert and called on the terror organizations and security personnel to prepare in order to curb further Israeli strikes.
The ministry’s spokesman, Khaled Abu Hilal, said that “Israel is taking advantage of the kidnapped soldier affair as an excuse to carry out further crimes against the Palestinian people.”
Abu Hilal added that “the attack on the Interior Ministry tonight and the Israeli crimes will only strengthen the Palestinians’ determination.”
Ali Waked contributed to the report