Netanyahu Condemns Renewed Rocket Fire On Israel
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned a rocket attack from Gaza on Israel, the third attack in two weeks.
“Israel holds Hamas responsible for all firing from the Gaza Strip at our territory. I have not heard anyone in the international community condemn this firing; neither has U.N. said a word. It will be interesting if this silence continues when we use our full strength to uphold our right to defend ourselves. Let it be clear: The spreading of hypocrisy in the world will not tie our hands and prevent us from protecting Israel’s citizens. Thus we have acted; thus we will act,” Netanyahu said Sunday at the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting, less than a day after the attack.
Rockets were fired from Gaza at southern Israel on Saturday evening. At least one landed in an unpopulated area of Ashkelon. No damage or injuries were reported. Local residents reported hearing the explosion.
In response the Israel Defense Forces fired on what it called in a statement “terror infrastructure” in the northern Gaza Strip. Hits on the target were confirmed, according to the IDF.
The IDF also closed the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings between Israel and Gaza, with an exception for medical emergencies and humanitarian aid. The crossings were closed on Saturday night following an Israeli government directive, according to the IDF, and will require a government directive to reopen.
The IDF reportedly on Friday deployed at least two Iron Dome Iron Dome anti-missile defense system batteries in southern Israel in response to a rocket attack from Gaza on June 3. A radical Islamist Salafist group called the Omar Brigades took responsibility for that attack, saying it was in retaliation for Hamas’ killing of an Islamic State supporter in Gaza the previous day.
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