2 Qassams land near Ashkelon school
Despite announcements regarding successful operation in Beit Hanoun, Palestinian Qassam attacks persist: Five rockets fired at Ashkelon Tuesday, two land near school, another by strategic installation; no injuries, damage reported
The IDF operation in Beit Hanoun has ended, but that does not seem to bother the rocket launching cells as seven Qassams were fired from northern Gaza, with two of them landing near a school in the city, two more at the industrial area, and one near a strategic installation.
Two other rockets were fired at western Negev communities. In all incidents no injuries or damage were reported.
Simultaneously, clashes between IDF forces and Palestinian gunmen continue as Palestinian sources had reported that three people were killed by IDF forces in Beit Lahiya on Tuesday afternoon, bringing the death toll for the day to nine.
A local ambulance driver, Khaled Abu Saada, told Ynet: "IDF tanks are firing wildly in the area. Medical teams are no succeeding to enter and evacuate the injured and killed. We know of three killed in the field, but we are unable to get there because tanks are firing crazily."
Terror group leader's son killed
Islamic Jihad activists taking part in the funereal of operatives killed on Tuesday morning vowed to continue the armed struggle against Israel. "We tell the Zionists, you can kill as much as you want, but our struggle won't end."
Earlier Tuesday, sources in the Gaza Strip reported that six Palestinians were killed in two different incidents. IDF officials said three people have been hit.
Two gunmen, members of the al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad's military wing, were killed in the Beit Lahiya area. The two, aged 22 and 24, residents of the Jabalya refugee camp, were killed after a battle with soldiers from an elite IDF unit. One of the two is the son of Khaled al-Batash, an Islamic Jihad leader.
Meanwhile, the sources in the Strip reported that three Palestinians were killed after an IDF shell hit the home of Hamas lawmaker Jamila Shanti. Shanti's sister-in-law was killed, as well as another two people, including Mahmoud Abu-Khabel, a prominent member of Hamas' military wing.
The IDF left Beit Hanoun early Tuesday after completing Operation Autumn Clouds. Fifty-seven Palestinians were killed during the operation. Staff Sgt. Kerell Golenshin was killed in duty in Beit Hanoun.
Ali Waked and Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report
