Gaza City – Israeli air strikes killed seven Hamas gunmen early Monday, the Islamist group’s armed wing said, making it their highest single death toll since a 2012 cross-border war with the Jewish state.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Israeli military authorities confirmed the strikes, saying they “responded to rocket attacks against southern Israel,” targeting 9 “terror” sites and concealed rocket launchers.
Hamas said the strikes were launched at a gathering point for its members in Gaza’s southern-most town of Rafah, at the Egyptian border.
The attacks followed a surge in rocket strikes at Israel from Gaza, where Hamas is the dominant force. The Israeli military said these attacks have topped 150 since mid-June, including about 20 rockets striking Israel on Sunday alone.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to his cabinet on Sunday “to do whatever is necessary” to restore quiet to southern Israeli communities.
Netanyahu also cautioned against any rush toward wider confrontation with the group, whose arsenal includes long-range rockets that can reach Israel’s heartland and its business capital, Tel Aviv.
But far-right members of Netanyahu’s cabinet have pushed for a stronger response to the rocket fire that has disrupted life for many Israelis living in the southern region where air raid sirens send them running for shelter.
Tensions have also spiked over the kidnap and slayings of three Israeli teens, attacks Israel has blamed on Hamas. The teens’ bodies were found last month near the West Bank city of Hebron, a Hamas stronghold.
Hamas has not claimed responsibility for these killings.
Monday’s fatalities were the single largest toll for Hamas since Israel’s “Pillar of Defence” campaign in late 2012 launched to halt rocket fire at its towns. In that eight-day war, some 180 Palestinians and six Israelis were killed.
May Hashem protect and bless the brave members of the IAF and they should be Matzliach in all of their missions.
Finally
וכל המרבה הרי זה משובח
Give them hell
too little – 1000 for every rocket
See ynet israeli news. It was a work accident that killed the seven not the Israelis. The israeli secular bums are cowards. They only know how to try and destroy yiddishkeit. To them being like the lowest goyim is most important. Sporting tattoos,wearing earrings,chillil shabbos,gay parades and so on. Is it any wonder they are finally being hit with terror from all over. Satmar was right. Tzionim are our worst enemies.