Barrage of rockets hits southern Israel; IDF kills Islamic Jihad member in Gaza
Toddler lightly injured after rocket hits private car; Iron Dome intercepts rocket over Be'er Sheva after member of Islamic Jihad killed in IDF strike, IAF strikes three Gaza sites in response.
By Avi Issacharoff, Yanir Yagna and The Associated Press Tags: Palestinians Gaza Gaza rockets IDFIAF aircraft targeted two militants in separate locations on Wednesday in northern Gaza, who had launched projectiles at Israel shortly before, the IDF said in a statement.
The military branch of Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks later on Wednesday night, saying that they were a response to the killing of an Islamic Jihad operative, Ismael al-Asmar, early on Wednesday morning, according to a report by Israel Radio.
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Palestinians look at the wreckage of a car after it was hit by an Israeli missile, killing an Islamic Jihad militant in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, August 24, 2011. |
| Photo by: AP |
Palestinian sources reported on Wednesday evening that a member of the Islamic Jihad was killed by an IDF strike in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in the Gaza Strip. Shortly afterwards a Grad rocket was launched toward Be'er Sheva and was intercepted by the Iron Dome system.
The IDF Home Front Command called on residents of Eshkol and Sha'ar Hanegev to remain indoors, and announced the cancellation of the "Breeze" music festival that was due to take place Wednesday evening. The announcement came only two hours after the Home Front Command said residents can return to their daily routine.
Also on Wednesday, security officials said that the Islamic Jihad operative who was killed in an IAF airstrike early Wednesday morning was responsible for transfer of funds used in last Thursday's attacks.
The operative was identified as 34-year-old Ismael al-Asmar. Security officials said that the decision was made to target al-Asmar due to intelligence that he was planning to initiate another attack from Sinai in the coming days.
Al-Asmar was targeted while he was in a vehicle in the western part of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. One additional person was wounded.
Later on Wednesday morning, two mortar shells fired from Gaza exploded in the Eshkol Regional Council, causing light damage but no injuries.
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Rockets and air strikes are something. But if they go on blindly escalating, it will be war. And for those of us who know what is war, we know that their would not be a lot left behind. Jihad objective has always been to burn the region, and Israel holds hard not to enter in their criminal and apocalyptic game. Stop calling for war!
Islamic terrorists invade Israel and kill civilians. Israel retaliates by killing the terrorists in Gaza who planned the operation. Islamic terrorist organizations shell Israeli cities. Israel hits more empty buildings and terrorist targets. Israel stops actions for 24 hours but crimes against humanity by Gaza terrorists continues. A ceasefire is eventually reached but is breached immediately by Islamic terrorists and Israel, after giving it ANOTHER chance hits more terrorists who plan to launch rockets as well as their commanders. Where is the condemnation for Palestinian crimes against humanity?
If you don't hit this terrorist, he sends people to kill you. If you kill this terrorist they send rockets with the intention of killing you. Deterrence is not working. It's time the Israeli military showed these two-bit terrorists who is boss in order to deter them from their next attack.
Settlement expansion is a constant provocation. Not just to Palestinians, but to the whole world. There is no nation, including America which supports Israel's settlements. Nations that are engaged in taking land belonging to other people and occupying it indefinitely, should expect some resistence. The fact is the Israel receives much less resistance than anybody would expect.
How about they stop terrorist acts, tear up the charter that calls for the destruction of Israel and killing of Jews and then there wouldn't even be a need for a blockade.
Cast Lead I was a failure because it did not disarm the terrorists nor free Shalit. The same thing happened in Lenbanon with hezbollah rearming with thousands of more missiles from Iran and others. The US disarms it's foes after they attack our homeland and "occupies them until they establish a Peaceful Democratic form of Government - Israel could learn from our defensive wars!
Israel must try a different approach.
Israel only unilaterally announced that it would not mount a ground incursion if the rocket attacks stopped. Israel did not negotiate an agreement with Hamas or anybody else. No doubt those involved in the Eilat attack -if any still survive- will continue to be dealt with.
Hamas is a group desperately looking for trouble,and when it doesn't come,they feel bad.i wonder how situation will be if Palestinians gets a state.terrorist activities orchestrated by Hamas will increase.This is because they are not interested with statehood,NO NO NO NO.their interest is trouble and more trouble.The UN should not hurry to pass a statehood,rather it should be conditional,that is until when shelling of rockets into Israel stops.until when Hamas and Palestinians recognizes Israel until when Gillad shalit is released from kidnapping,until when any form of terrorism stops.
manhood, one in the same for these to poodles. Israel , you are going to have to demand competent leadership before you deal effectively with Hamas !
Time for Bibi and Barak to get their heads out and let the IAF go to work. No to ground ops.
Time for Bibi and Barak to get their heads out and let the IAF go to work. No to ground ops.
Iran is behind this, bomb their nuke facilities. If someone is monitoring my internet let me know.
End this stupid blockade and those micky mouse firework will stop.
Next you'll say "end Israel and the rockets will stop"
The blockage exists because of the attacks. So stop the attacks and the blocage will end.
used when they said that it would end when they left gaza in the first place, fool me once shame on you , fool me twice shame on me
Continue an Occupation and illegally settle Palestinian Land and blockade and suppress and oppress its people and the prize is Rockets.
So Palestinians have right to Jerusalem? How about your take your Palestinians palm palms and cheer in the center of Gaza. Then hopefully the Salfists group wont abduct you and kill you while shooting live video on the internet like Vittorio Arigani.
Hebron massacre of 1928. What was the reason then?
That is freaking ridiculous... are you going to protect your own country from suicidal maniacs? Time to eliminate ALL hamas leadership and clean streets of gaza from brainwashed homicidal nobodies....
originates in the attack on Eilat.
Shame on israel!
the attack upon Eilat. Those responsible for that attack on innocent Israeli civilians are now under attack. How is that "without justification?"
Without justification. More than 100 rockets fired into civilian cities, and towns. Shame on you for your stupidity and support of terrorism.
Israel should drop Goldstone from a plane instead of bombs.
Seems to me that the rocket fire could be an attempt by outlying groups to sabotage Palestinian quest for statehood in UN, believing that that would undermine the goal of destroying Israeli state. Also showing that Hamas govt is not functioning as a legitimate potential partner in a Pal state government.
The World is a much better place. Hopefully, Israel can make the World a better place again tommorrow.
But Israel will tell the world that Israel is a victim of the rockets, not the cause. Of course, this truth will never be printed in Israel.
So, what's new? Haven't figured out that they PRCs only lie about cease-fires? They only understand death and destruction. Send them the message loud and clear! Then send the survivors back to Egypt!
Israel bombed Gaza BEFORE rockets were fired from Gaza. The victim card isn't working anymore.
Israelis will never live in peace as long as they keep on Bombing the Innocent Palestinians. We support our brothers, and Allah willing, victory will come sooner than later. The Arab spring is knocking at the Israelis doors
Israel has the right to defend it self, your good friends fired rockets at Israel first. Ahole
Israel does bomb the terrorists. If your "brothers" insist on hiding among the innocents, then the innocents are likely to get hurt too. If you pray to Allah, instead of praying to succeed in killing more, ask for a brai, as you may then realize that you can do better by trying to improve your life rather than by taking the life of the others.
Today Yemen killed 36 Al Qaida members, Tukey killed over 100 kurdish freedom fighters, Syria killed 40 more of your Allah brothers and you only complain when Israel sends some terrorists to the virgins. You are a real shmuck.
Minorities in Muslim countries dreams of equality and freedom, shia in Suni land dreams of it .Suni in Shia land with the same dreams,racism is your policy,religion,and traditions. "Support our brothers"yesterday they were your enemy.Typical for you you pray for vicrory,well i pray for peace,maybe because we had many victories but they bring no peace."Arab spring"did not changed anything yet,only death and distraction,don't put your hopes to high,history says otherwise.
Typical blind response! I doubt you even read the article.....
Don't really see much inno9cence in teh man who financed the raid into Eilat he does not sound like some choirboy as for the ones killed launching mortars they sure don't seem like sweet innocent types either. So what exactly was the point you were trying to make. Israel should not defend itself. Grow up live long don't shoot at us we wont have to take you out Simple no?
A real genocide. If it was true.
No, they have never been known to make a mistake or lie........... yeah right........
Let me guess, the 3 year old the Israelis killed a few days ago led the attacks from Egypt.
Palestinian violence targets civilians, but Israeli violence targets combatants. The moral difference is profound. Israel does not target innocents, the jihadists do.
If you don't want rockets, don't drop bombs and break the ceasefire.
This was your sub heading on an earlier story. I am now waiting for a revised definition of calm! We appear to be in the position of frantically ignoring the "elephant in the room"! Our defense analysts - and it seems,sadly, our political and military leaders - now interpret Hamas p*ssing on us as a light shower of summer rain. What else do they have to do to capture our attention? Enough already! The world attitude to our actions is fixed irrespective of what those actions are. Since no response will be considered "proportionate"- might as well go all the way. True deterrence is the name of the game. "Pretty please"doesn't work any more!
You see, there is no honor in the words, or deeds of Palestinians, and some in israel think you can have "peace" with such people??? When will you believe you can't; when the next rocket kills you or someone you love??
people under occupation have the right to use force
got rockets in response. If this continues, Gaza will be reoccupied.
civilians and Israeli violence targets combatants.
Right now Micheal I see a ceasefire that has been broken 2 days in a row by the Pal militants. That is what I see and read.
you are not under occupation.
Sadly, It is expected.
So you can bomb they cannot retaliate ?
There was a ceasefire between the IDF and all the militant groups. So far the Pal militant groups have broken it 2 days in a row. I would have preferred the IDF to sit tight but then again I'm living safely in Montreal.
One fires missles in order to kill. The other in order to protect it's citizens. One fires indiscriminately, and hopes to hit civilians. The other does everything in their power not to hurt civilians of a group who won't even sign a peace treaty. Which one is the terrorist?