Sources in the Gaza Strip reported Friday morning that five Palestinians were killed and several others were injured after an IDF tank fired a shell at a group of residents in the Sajaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza City in the northern Strip. Meanwhile, Qassam rockets fired from north Gaza continue to hit Sderot area.
The Palestinians reported that the casualties were members of one family – a mother and three of her children. According to the sources, a relative who was in the house was also killed.
An initial IDF inquiry into the incident revealed that IDF soldiers spotted two Palestinians, at least one of them a Hamas member, who sought to fire an anti-tank missile at the forces out of a house's balcony. A tank fired a shell and the two suspects were hit.
"If in fact civilians who are not involved in terror were also hurt in the incident, we regret this, but also in this case, line in many other cases, the terrorists are those operating from built and populated areas against IDF soldiers, and therefore the terror organizations bear responsibility for anyone hurt in the incident," said sources in the Southern Command.
According to military sources, the incident's circumstances were still being checked.
Sajaiya neighborhood following night bombardment (Photo: Reuters)
IDF officials said that a ground force has been operating in the Karni area in the northern Gaza Strip since Thursday night, as part of the IDF's overall activity aimed at thwarting the threat of tunnels and Qassam rocket fire and targeting terror infrastructures in the area.
The Palestinians reported that the IDF left behind demolished houses and damaged infrastructures during the three days it operated in the area. The Palestinians reported that more than 15 people were killed and dozens were wounded in the operation.
Qassams hit Sderot area
Two Qassam rockets hit the area of kibbutz Nir Am Friday morning, not far from Sderot in the western Negev.
One of the rockets landed near the kibbutz cemetery and the second landed in an open area. No one was wounded and no damages were caused.
The Color Red alert system sounded in Sderot moments before the rockets hit. Overnight, another rocket land south of Ashkelon, incurring no casualties or damage.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
First published: 08:10, 07.21.6