JERUSALEM, Nov 2, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Israeli aircraft hit a series of
targets in the Gaza Strip early Saturday in response to rocket fire that
damaged a house in southern Israel.
Dozens of strikes hit the Palestinian enclave in the early hours,
targeting bases of the strip’s Islamist rulers Hamas and allied groups, a
security source in Gaza said.
The Israeli army said they were hitting “terror targets.”
Three people were injured, at least one seriously, the health ministry in
the strip said.
The sound of explosions could be heard up and down the impoverished
territory, an AFP correspondent said.
A Hamas source said they had fired at the Israeli aircraft carrying out
the raids and the Israeli army confirmed fresh “incoming fire” from Gaza.
The strikes came in response to at least 10 rockets fired from Gaza late
Friday at southern Israel. The Israeli army said the country’s Iron Dome
anti-missile defence system intercepted eight of the rockets.
The rockets were fired in waves, the army said, with air raid sirens
sounding in southern Israel. One house was hit and damaged, without causing
any casualties, the army said, posting a picture of the damage on Twitter.
“This family home in southern Israel was just hit by a rocket fired from
Gaza,” the military said.
It was the second consecutive evening that the army reported rocket fire
from the Palestinian enclave, which is ruled by Hamas.
Prior to Thursday, there had been no such reported rocket fire from Gaza
towards Israel since September 12.
In August, a series of rocket attacks from Gaza and Israeli retaliations,
as well as border clashes, raised fears of an escalation between Hamas and
Israel, as elections approached in the Jewish state.
Those polls — Israel’s second elections this year — took place on
September 17, but have yet to yield a new government.
Sworn enemies Israel and Hamas have fought three wars in the Palestinian
enclave since 2008.
Analysts say a fourth round remains likely.