First Rocket From Gaza Since Unity Gov’t Formed

Terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired a rocket into Israel on Wednesday morning for the first time since rival Palestinian factions formed a national unity government, the Israeli military said.

The Israel Air Force struck back on Wednesday night, hitting terror targets operating in the northern Gaza Strip and planning attacks against Israel.

IDF spokesman Peter Lerner said Jihad-affiliated terrorists were targeted by Israeli forces in  a “preemtive strike.”

Palestinian media sources have reported casualties in the strike, according to Israel Radio.

Israel has warned it would hold the Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responsible for any attacks out of Gaza since he formed a new government last week with the backing of Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007.

There are no Hamas members in the government, but the armed
group backs the new Cabinet. Israel and the West consider Hamas, which is sworn to Israel’s destruction and has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings on buses and in cafes along with other deadly attacks, a terrorist group.

Nobody was wounded by the rocket, which exploded on a road in the south of the country, Israeli police said.

Deputy defense minister Danny Danon called on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to take action following Wednesday’s attack. “This rocket fire is the direct result of the Hamas-supported government,” Danon said. He said Israel should halt the transfer of taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinians.

This article appeared in print on page 1 of the June 12th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.