The Qatari envoy to Gaza, Muhammad al-Emadi, was staying in the hotel next to the site of the attack, according to the Jerusalem-based Arabic-language daily Al-Quds. Al-Emadi arrived to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
In addition, the Gaza fishing zone was reduced to 10 nautical miles on Thursday, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Maj.-Gen. Kamil Abu Rukun, announced.
The IAF fire and the reduction of the fishing zone came in response to a rocket fired from Gaza toward Israel overnight on Wednesday. The rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome. Two people were injured during the rocket fire. One is in a state of shock from the alarm and the other was lightly injured while running to shelter. They were treated at the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon.
The IDF Spokespersons Unit stressed that Israel holds Hamas responsible for all actions in and from the Gaza Strip, and that the terrorist group will suffer the consequences of any action against Israeli citizens.
“I think we know fairly well how to analyze who’s behind things and to act accordingly,” Deputy Defense Minister Avi Dichter told KAN news on Thursday. “All the tools aren’t taken out in every [situation]. The agreement [between Hamas and Israel] is a tactical issue that connects our interests and Hamas’s interests, not in order to solve the root issue in Gaza.”
MK Yair Lapid of Blue and White responded on his twitter account to the Wednesday night’s Gaza rocket fire, saying: “It’s an alarming failure on every level.”
“The lack of any sort of policy regarding Gaza, meager responses and empty words about a cease fire, an agreement, containment and occasional leniency again and again bring the citizens of the Gaza border communities to an unfathomable situation. There are no magic solutions, but there’s lots to do. For that one needs a good and functional government. Deterrence is brought back by force.” Lapid wrote.
This latest round of rocket fire and retaliation comes after last month’s escalation, which followed the assassination of Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Baha Abu al-Ata on November 12.
Also on Wednesday night, the IAF opened fire at an armed terrorist who approached the border in the southern Gaza Strip, near Khan Yunis.