2 Hamas men killed in strike
Air Force fires missiles at group of Hamas men in southern Gaza Strip Saturday evening
The IDF confirmed that it targeted a Hamas structure in the southern Gaza Strip. Military sources said the latest attack came in response to mortar attacks on Israel in recent days.
Palestinian sources in the Strip reported that two members of Hamas' military wing were killed in the strike – Mansour Ibraim and Ayad Abu Abed. The sources added that two of the men injured in the strike are in serious condition.
According to the Palestinians, an IDF aircraft fired at least three missiles at the post. The sources say that the missiles hit a group of Hamas men at the site of the attack. The wounded were taken to hospital in Khan Younis.
Hamas blames Bush
Hamas sources reacted to the latest strike by saying: "The attack is Israeli implementation of the green light that President (George W.) Bush gave Israel during his recent visit that enables the launch of an attack on the Gaza Strip."
A Hamas spokesman in Khan Yunis said that "Israeli operations against Palestinian organizations will not subdue the Palestinian people and the Hamas organization and (will not prevent them) from continuing to fight the occupation."
In recent days, Hamas' military wing claimed responsibility for several mortar attacks on IDF posts and Gaza-region communities. On Saturday, three mortar shells and two Qassam rockets were fired from Gaza. One of the rockets hit near the Israeli community of Netiv Ha'asara, while another one hit the Erez Crossing.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
