Hamas says 2 of its members killed by IDF strike on Gaza
Palestinians also report 2 people killed, 10 injured in Sajaiya neighborhood; kibbutz building damaged as 2 mortar shells land in Negev; no injuries reported; 30 mortars, rockets launched in total since dawn.
By JPOST.COM STAFFA car hit by IAF airstrike in Gaza 311 (R)(photo credit: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)
The IDF on Friday evening attacked the terror cell in Gaza that launched rockets at Ashkelon earlier in the day. The military wing of Hamas announced that an area commander of Hamas was killed in the attack along with another member of the organization.At the same time, Palestinians reported that two Palestinians were killed and 10 wounded by gunfire in the neighborhood of Sajaiya. RELATED:Abbas condemns Israeli 'aggression' on Gaza StripPeres condemns school bus attack at UNSC envoy meetingIron Dome works in combat, intercepts Katyusha rocketIn a day when 22 mortars had already landed in the South, Palestinians launched two mortar shells on Friday evening from Gaza which landed in the grounds of a kibbutz in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. No one was injured, but damage was caused to one of the buildings on the kibbutz. Less than hour later, three mortar shells landed in the Eshkol Regional Council.Also on Friday evening, Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised the successful interception by the Iron Dome missile defense system of three Kassam rockets fired towards Ashkelon.Less than hour later, three mortar shells landed in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. Earlier in the afternoon, five mortar shells landed landed south of Ashkelon and three in the Eshkol Regional Council. All landed in open areas, causing no casualties or damage.Palestinian sources reported that IDF strikes in Gaza earlier on Friday afternoon left one woman, her daughter, and a third man dead in a village near Khan Younis. Two Hamas members were also reportedly killed during the strikes.Since Thursday night, ten Palestinians were killed in various IDF attacks on terror cells throughout Gaza. The IDF said that in response to rocket fire from deep inside a residential area in southern Gaza, IAF air craft struck two terror cells. According to to the Palestinian media source, an Israeli aircraft struck a group of civilians.The explosions occurred in the afternoon hours, and schools held students from returning to their homes until the attacks passed. The explosions caused no casualties.Earlier on Friday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that Thursday's school bus attack "crossed the line," and adding that "the IDF acted immediately last night and would continue to act with determination."Speaking from a meeting with the Czech president, Netanyahu commented that "whoever tries to hurt and murder children: the blood is on his hands."
