2 injured in IAF strike in Gaza
Israeli warplanes bomb weapons cache in northern Strip a few hours after Qassam hits heart of populated zone near Ashkelon; Palestinians say rocket-launching cell targeted
The IDF Spokesperson's Office reported that warplanes bombed a weapons cache in north Gaza late Tuesday night, this after a Qassam rocket was fired at Israel earlier in the day.
The pilots identified direct hits and returned to their base safely, the army said.
According to the Palestinians, a rocket-launching cell was targeted near the Jabalia refugee camp. Two people were lightly injured in the strike, sources in the Hamas-ruled territory said. It remains unclear whether the injured Palestinians were rocket-launchers.
The IDF said the attack came in response to the rocket attacks on Israel's western Negev region. "The army will not tolerate any attempt to harm the citizens of Israel or its soldiers and will continue to act with resolve against any element that employs terror," the army said in a statement, adding that it considers Hamas solely responsible for the goings on in Gaza.
Palestinian sources in Gaza said IDF drones had been continually hovering above the coastal enclave since Tuesday evening, adding that explosions could be heard in northern Gaza a little after 1 am.
A few hours earlier, at around 8:30 pm, a Qassam fired from Gaza exploded in an open area in the heart of a populated zone in the Ashkelon Beach region. No injuries were reported in the latest attack.
Also on Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi told a Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting that Hamas is not interested in a flare up in the Gaza Strip and does not wish for the situation to get out of hand.
Commenting on Qassam rocket attacks that have increased in recent weeks, he added, "If Hamas wanted to, it could get a better hold on the attacks coming from there."
IDF Southern Command chief Major General Yoav Galant said Monday that Israel's security forces will be acting to restore quiet in the south if needed and may use the element of surprise.
Addressing the intensifying rocket attacks originating from Gaza, the senior officer expressed his hope that the latest strikes were a passing episode.
The Israeli Air Force struck a weapons cache in Gaza on Monday night as well in response to Qassaf fire emanating from the Strip. Four Palestinians were injured in the bombing of an arms cache.
