After the targeted killing of a suspected jihadist leader in the Gaza Strip, there has been a heavy rocket fire today. Israeli media reported that more than 50 rockets were fired, 20 of which had been intercepted. The army had previously killed in the Gaza Strip the commander of the Islamic Jihad group, Baha Abu al-Ata.
Syrian state media also reported that the Israeli air force also attacked the home of a jihad leader in Damascus. Two rockets had met in the morning a residence of Akram Adschuri, reported the state-owned Syrian agency SANA. In addition to Adschuri’s son, a second person was killed. Accordingly, ten people were injured. Israel’s army does not comment on the reports, said a military spokesman in Tel Aviv.
Another targeted air strike by the Israeli army in the northern Gaza Strip killed at least one more militant Palestinian. According to military figures, two members of the Islamic Jihad were traveling on a motorcycle. They had prepared a rocket attack on Israel.
Rocket hits house in Israel
According to media reports, the city of Sderot, which is close to the Gaza Strip, and its surroundings were hit by rocket attacks. A rocket is said to have hit directly into a house in Netivot. The building was badly damaged, but no one was injured.Israeli television also featured a video showing a rocket striking close to moving cars on a freeway near Gan Javne south of Tel Aviv. A man was slightly injured.
According to paramedics, an eight-year-old Israeli girl was in mortal danger after a rocket attack. She had lost consciousness after warning sirens howled in Chulon south of Tel Aviv, it said in a statement. Paramedics had revived them and taken them to a hospital. She was in critical condition.
Netanyahu: „Cool head“ asked
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the clashes with militant Palestinians could „take some time“. Now, „a cool head and perseverance“ are in demand. The „Haaretz“ newspaper reported that Israel is to further escalation preparatory, school lessons and all unnecessary work in areas affected by rocket fire areas were interrupted, wrote the daily newspaper „Haaretz“. Local authorities have opened shelters.
The Israeli forces were now on multi-day clashes, said also army spokesman Jonathan Cornicus. He emphasized that the attack on Baha Abu al-Ata is not a return to the controversial policy of targeted killing of Israel’s enemies. „This Israeli attack is not a sign of a change in Israeli politics,“ says Cornicus. That was a unique action to avert „a direct threat“.
