(Archive photo)
Photo: Avi Roccah
Israeli retaliatory strike causes death of 2 children in Gaza
The IDF struck four Hamas targets in Gaza, following the firing of several rockets into Israeli territory on Friday night; 10-year-old Yassin Abu Khussa and his 6-year-old sister Isaraa, who's home is near a Hamas training camp, were killed by a missile fragment.
Fragments from a missile fired by an Israeli aircraft killed a 10-year-old Yassin Abu Khussa and his sister six-years-old Israa Abu Khussa in the Gaza on Saturday, while another sibling was wounded, medical officials said, hours after militants launched rockets into Israel.
Residents of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip said Yassin died after missile debris hit his home, which is situated next to a militant training camp. His six-year-old sister, who was wounded in the strike, later succumbed to her injuries.
A statement by the IDF said aircraft had targeted four militant training camps belonging to Hamas after four missiles landed in open areas in southern Israel late on Friday. No casualties were reported from the rocket strikes.
Rocket fire from Gaza. (Archive photo: AFP)
Residents of Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip said Yassin died after missile debris hit his home, which is situated next to a militant training camp. His six-year-old sister, who was wounded in the strike, later succumbed to her injuries.
The fatalities from air strikes in Gaza were the first since last October. The IDF said that since the beginning of the year and including Friday's salvo, seven rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel.
IDF spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Peter Lerner said the rocket strike was an effort by militants to "threaten the security and safety of the people of southern Israel. The (military) will continue to act to protect against those who threaten innocent lives and Israel's sovereignty."
Hamas militants in Gaza. (Photo: AFP)
Gaza rocket fire has tapered off significantly since a 2014 war when militants fired thousands of rockets and mortars into Israel and over 2,100 Palestinians, as well as six Israeli civilians and 67 soldiers were killed.
Beset by a months-long surge of street attacks by Palestinians from the West Bank and Jerusalem, Israel has little desire to see a fresh flare-up in Gaza, where Hamas has mostly held its fire in the past 18 months.
