October 11, 2012

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Air Force bombed what it called a “terror activity site” in the northern Gaza Strip.

The attack early Thursday morning was in retaliation for rocket fire on southern Israel this week, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces.

The attack, which the IDF said it confirmed as a “direct hit,” damaged the Izz al-Din al-Qassam training camp, the French news agency AFP reported, citing Palestinian officials in Gaza. No one was injured in the attack, according to the AFP.

“The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians, and will operate against anyone who uses terror against the State of Israel. The Hamas terror organization is solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said.

Since the beginning of 2012 more than 500 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip have hit Israel, including over 40 in October alone.

On Wednesday night a rocket fired from Gaza hit an open area in Netivot; that attack followed the firing of several rockets at Israel on Tuesday. 

Some 30 rockets and mortars, also reported at more than 50, were fired from Gaza at southern Israel on Monday, damaging an apartment building and killing several animals in a petting zoo. 

The barrage of rockets came a day after the Israel Air Force targeted a motorcycle carrying two Palestinians that the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement had been planning an attack against Israel on the Sinai border. One was killed and the other seriously injured. Eleven others were wounded in the attack, including five children, according to the Palestinian Ma’an news service.

Hamas claimed responsibility for Monday’s rocket attacks, saying it was in response to Israel’s strike.
 

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