Gaza: 2 killed in IDF strike

Two Palestinians were killed Wednesday evening in an IDF strike in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, after terrorists fired five rockets at Sderot earlier. Palestinian sources said that two civilians who were not involved in the rocket attacks were killed in the strike.

An IDF official said that "a cell that fired at Israel several minutes earlier was targeted. We believe that those hurt were cell members. In this case too, as is usual, they operate near innocent Palestinian civilians and endanger them." The official made it clear that the IDF is determined to hit Qassam and mortar launching cells to prevent future attacks.

"We undertake great efforts to avoid hitting civilians," said the military official. "Those who endanger civilians are terror groups that do not shy away from firing rockets from areas located near schools even. Therefore, if civilians are hurt, terror groups are responsible."

The IDF noted that in recent years the army has been able to significantly minimize the ratio of civilians being hurt compared to terrorists. "We will continue doing so in the future, but as long as terror groups act under the cover of the civilian population, they will put them at risk."  

The two Palestinians killed in the attack were identified as 52-year-old Khadara Wakhadan and 15-year-old Muhammad Kaparna. Both of them were reportedly killed at home.

Earlier Wednesday, the IDF attacked a cell that fired Qassam rockets at Israel, killing one terrorist and wounded four.

An official from Islamic Jihad said several of its members were hit by an Israeli missile after they fired four makeshift rockets into southern Israel.

An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed there had been a strike on a group of militants that had launched mortar bombs from the Hamas Islamist-controlled territory towards Israel.

Ali Waked and AP contributed to the story