IAF strikes Gaza after Erez-crossing rocket damage
10 rockets, mortar shells explode in Ehskol, Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Councils, Asheklon; no injuries; Erez border crossing damaged; 2 Islamic Jihad members killed, Palestinian report says.
By JPOST.COM STAFFErez Crossing 311 (R)(photo credit: Mohammed Salem/Reuters)A ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza seemed distant Thursday evening as the violence in the south of the country continued with at least 15 rockets and mortar shells exploding in Israeli territory, and Israeli air strikes that reportedly left two Islamic Jihad members dead.The Code Red siren was heard throughout the Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Councils and in Ashkelon as 15 rockets and mortar shells fell throughout those areas, the IDF Spokesman's Office said in a statement.RELATED:IDF strikes targets in Gaza in response to rocket fire 'PA silence over terror raises questions about statehood'No injuries were reported in Thursday's attacks, but their was damage caused to a building in the Erez border crossing at the Gaza border.In response to the building damage at Erez, the IAF struck a rocket-launching pad in the northern Gaza Strip, the spokesman's statement said.
Palestinians sources said the IAF killed two Palestinians when a missile struck their motorcycle while they were riding in the northern Gaza Strip. It was unclear whether this was the same missile strike as the IDF Spokesperson's Office announced.While the IDF issued no comment on the strike, a medical source in Gaza said that one of the victims was identified as Salim Khaled al-Arabid, Ma'an reported. Another Palestinian source said the riders were members of Islamic Jihad's militant wing.At least 20 rockets have exploded in Israel since Tuesday night. A nine-month-old baby was injured yesterday in the Ashkelon area when a rocket exploded on a car nearby, causing hand wounds.
