Several mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip on Monday landed in an open area within the Eshkol Regional Council. There were no reports of injuries or damage in the barrage, which took place just before noon.
Shortly afterwards, the Israel Defense Forces attacked a vehicle in the Gaza town of Rafah, reportedly injuring a number of people. One of the wounded, a member of the Popular Resistance Committees, died at the hospital. Two others sustained serious injuries.
Car damaged in strike (Photo: AFP)
On Sunday night, Israeli aircraft bombed Hamas
targets in the Gaza Strip after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
vowed a "disproportionate" response
to mortar fire that injured three Israelis. Security sources confirmed the strike, citing that the Israeli Air Force struck
six targets in Gaza during the evening hours.
The targets included a Hamas stronghold, and several tunnels on the Philadelphi Route. According to the sources, the fire triggered several explosions, indicating that Hamas as resumed its arms smugglings.No casualties were reported.
Shortly after Sunday's strikes, Defense Minister Ehud Barak
said Israel
was not gearing
for a second offensive in the Gaza Strip.
"We have no intention of embarking on Operation Cast Lead
number two. We said there would be a response (to the rocket fire) and we responded.
"I don’t know whether or not Hamas would really hold fire on Thursday; we'll have to wait and see," he added.
Ilana Curiel contributed to this report
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