Israel – After a day of ceasefire breaches which saw at least 15 rockets land in Israeli territory, IAF planes struck at multiple targets in Khan Yunis and Rafah late Sunday evening, Channel 10 reported.
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Palestinians reported huge explosions as Israeli jets dropped bombs on the Gaza-Egypt border area, where Hamas operates tunnels to smuggle in weapons, food and other goods. No casualties were reported. The military had no immediate comment.
Before the attack, Israeli aircraft flew over the area near the border town of Rafah, setting off sonic booms, and witnesses said hundreds of people who work in the tunnels there fled, along with residents.
Residents said tunnel workers were waiting in Rafah streets for the attacks to end so they could get back to their positions.
Prior to the airstrikes, Channel 10 had reported that the IDF had sent messages by phone to the Palestinians in Khan Yunis and Rafah telling them that they should evacuate their houses “immediately.”
The IAF strikes come just hours after two soldiers and a civilian were lightly wounded by shrapnel from mortar shells which were fired from the Gaza Strip into the Sha’ar Hanegev region of the western Negev.
At least 15 Kassam rockets and mortar shells struck Israel on Sunday. One rocket landed between two kindergartens in the Eshkol region, one struck Sderot, two others hit open areas nearby and a fourth hit the Sdot Negev region.
Nobody else was wounded in the attacks, and no damage was reported.
The latest ceasefire violations were joined by direct attacks on IDF soldiers. In the morning, an IDF patrol on the Gaza border near the Kissufim crossing came under fire.
Troops returned fire into Gaza, and no casualties or damage were reported in the attack.
Fatah’s military wing, the Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, took responsibility for one of the rocket attacks. The other attacks were not claimed.
Following the attack, Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer called for an immediate IDF response. “We need to respond severely and immediately… Hamas must pay for this,” he told Army Radio, adding that no one should give the excuse that a smaller faction was responsible for the attack.
Eight rockets have been fired at southern Israel since both Israel and Hamas declared cease-fires some two weeks ago at the end of Operation Cast Lead.
On Saturday, a Grad rocket fired from northern Gaza hit an open area near a kibbutz in the Ashkelon area. On Thursday, a rocket was fired at the Sha’ar Hanegev region and on Wednesday, one landed in the Eshkol region. There were no reports of casualties or damage in any of the attacks.
Yet there is no world condemnation- or even a single word- uttered by anyone regarding Hamas’ consistent attacks and breaking of the “ceasefire.” This is why Israel needs to grow a backbone and just attack these animals without worrying about worthless world opinion. These people just don’t understand civility or respect for human life- Hamas celebrated a “victory” after operation Cast Lead. Israel needs to just take care of this problem once and for all.
“Residents said tunnel workers were waiting in Rafah streets for the attacks to end so they could get back to their positions.”
My point exactly. All these little hit and run attacks are going to do is help bolster world opinion against Israel while doing NOTHING to stop rockets or tunnels. Israel, grow up already and do something about it.
Israel should have never left Gaza until they wiped out Hamas. Big Mistake! Israel should NOT discuss another ceasefire with other nations until Hamas is totally detroyed.
I believe Israel is not intrested in dismantling Hamas… all this is, is Kadima trying to win votes, by showing that they’re tuff on Hamas!!
hmm once again hamas breaks a ceasefire, attacks and the world is silence no media yelling about how its wrong that they broke the ceasefire and the u.n is not meeting to write any resolutions on how hamas is attacking after a ceasefire and firing on cilvianins. talk about double standard. we attack to protect ourselves we r bad & the world is against they attack and no one says boo. israel should wipeout hamas and we should only read a small paragraph about them in history books .
This shpill reminds me of the 100 days gulf war of the 1st president Bush which basicaly accomplished nothing, till President Bush the 2nd went in and finnaly finished the job once & for all.
stop calling before you attack, enough of this misplaced mercy. guns don’t kill, gunners do.
if you blow up weapons and tunnels but leave the murderers alive, they get right back to work as soon as they come out from hiding behind their grandmothers.
don’t talk so much just give them an unbearably painful retaliation after each attack, don’t excuse yourself to the whining world, just be consistent. after each attack, a horrible retaliation.
they’ll learn very fast, just like the japanese did in 1945
Good, now we are dealing with it instead crying about it.
Every single day until they stop.
who runs isreal these days? this was such a great oppertunity for them to gain world oppinion to their side, they are creating such harm onto themselves what no enemy can ever do (y can’t they hire a normal “pr” firm for a couple of dollars? instaed of hearing 1 oppinion from the state of isreal they have every other minister making stupid comments … )
the world is trying to determine the breaking point of israel . they turn to the other cheek especially if it is israel cheeks . recent time magazine article , how idf killed three small girls in gaza ; trying to get the false sympathy of the gentile world. hamas must be broken. hamas say that the israelis warn them, they run away, then they are attacked, and after the attack they go back to their tunnels.their must be away that they can close the tunnels without the hamas returning. fill it it up with mustard, or tar, or any thing gooky that makes it very difficult to get back to them.
Israel should tell the U.N. come into gaza and get the civilians out of gaza. There should be live cameras to show the world if Hamas are holding back the civilains from leaving. Then Israel should go in and destroy Hamas. If the U.N. does not get the civilains out, then the deaths of the civilians will lie on the u.n. and the rest of the world. Israel, stop this insanity and get the job done.
Where’s is OBAMA?? Why is he not commenting on the situation? Israel is being hit with rockets for a few days already, and not a word??
The nonsense of 1 president at a time is over!! now it’s your time Mr. Husseign..
It’s time to go and apogolize now to Al Jazirra.. Because your close ally Israel is defending itself..
Yes my fellow americans, You wanted CHANGE! You got it!!
1 Carpet bomb will do the job!!
How did Mccain sing in that town hall meeting? BOMB BOMB BOMB…..
Dear Barak,
Thanks for calling me in advance to let me know the route of your IAF. You saved my life & the life of my buddies.. To show you our appreciation we will urge our brothers in east Jerusalem to vote for you!
In case my landline got destroyed by your bomb here is my cell # …… But please don’t share it with BIBI…
Love, CHAMAS
They need to steamroll through Gaza. it has to be done quickly like pilling off a bandaid.
It’s easy for us to talk (living in the US) but they have to go in with ground forces and end the problems with no regard to world opinion.
Plain and simple.