Hamas men killed in Gaza airstrike
IAF missile hits car in central Gaza containing Qassam-launching cell; six operatives killed, Palestinian medical sources say
A missile fired from an Israeli aircraft killed six Hamas operatives travelling in a car in central Gaza on Monday, Palestinian officials said. The military said they had been targeted as participants in terror activities.
The vehicle was leaving a Hamas military installation when it was targeted by Israeli aircraft, said Dr. Muawiya Hassanin of the Palestinian Health Ministry. Hamas members reported earlier that the car was hit as it approached a Hamas security post.
According to the IDF spokesperson's office, the occupants of the car were members of a rocket-launching cell that had fired a Qassam and a number of mortar shells towards Gaza vicinity communities earlier the same day.
As such, the airstrike is part of continuing operations by the IDF's Gaza Division to combat rocket launchings from the Strip. Although Qassam attacks have decreased in frequency recently, the military continues to observe and act to restrain Palestinian launch cells.
AP and Reuters contributed to this report
