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ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS-CONFLICT
Gaza militants launch ‘substantial’ rocket fire at Israel: army
JERUSALEM, Nov 12, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The Israeli army said that
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip pounded the Jewish state with
“substantial” rocket fire Tuesday after Israel killed a commander of Islamic
Jihad.
“There is substantial fire,” army spokesman Jonathan Conricus told
journalists in a conference call.
Rockets struck the south of Israel and warning sirens wailed in Tel Aviv,
although there were no immediate reports of hits on the seaside city.
“We are preparing for a number of days of fighting,” Conricus said.
The army ordered “non-essential” workers in Tel Aviv and central Israel to
stay at home like those in the Gaza border region, ordered schools and
universities to close and banned public gatherings.
Israeli public radio said that more than a million pupils and students
were missing their studies Tuesday.
The flareup came after a dawn strike on the Gaza home of Islamic Jihad
commander Baha Abu Al-Ata, 42. The group said Ata’s wife was also killed.
Israel blamed Ata for recent rocket fire into its territory and said he
was preparing further attacks.
The strike raised the possibility of a severe escalation between Israel
and Palestinian militants in Gaza, which is ruled by Islamist movement Hamas,
which is allied with Islamic Jihad.
Three wars have been fought between them since 2008.
Hamas in a statement threatened revenge on Israel after the strike.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1300HRS