Israel Strikes Hamas Targets in Gaza Following 2 Rocket Attacks
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Israel’s Air Force bombed what it identified as two “Hamas weapon manufacturing facilities” in the northern Gaza Strip in response to a two rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel.
A pregnant Palestinian woman and her 2-year-old daughter were killed in the early Sunday morning Israeli airstrike, the Palestinian Maan news agency reported.
The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted a rocket Saturday night over highly-populated southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The attack came after three rockets were fired from Gaza at town on the Israeli border with the coastal strip on Friday night. Following that attack, an additional Iron Dome battery was deployed on Saturday to southern Israel near Beersheba.
On Friday evening and Saturday, Palestinian rioters gathered at the border fence between Israel and Gaza. Dozens of rioters broke through the barrier and infiltrated Israel. At least seven Gazans were killed during the infiltrations.
The IDF said in a statement that it holds Hamas responsible for the aggression from Gaza.
“This weekend we have seen clear incitement encouraging the breach of Israel’s sovereignty, violent confrontation against Israelis and threatening the residence of southern Israel,” said IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner. “The IDF will continue to act, preempt and defeat those that plot to harm the civilians of Israel.”
Hamas warned Israel to stop its air attacks on Gaza.
“This shows the occupation’s desire to escalate,” Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, said on Sunday, Iran’s Press TV reported. “We warn the occupation against continuing this foolishness.”
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
