Israeli soldiers search for the remains of a rocket launched from the Gaza
Strip towards Israel after it landed near Kibbutz Nir Am, near the Israeli city
of Ashkelon, March 10, 2012. (Reuters/ Amir Cohen)
Strip towards Israel after it landed near Kibbutz Nir Am, near the Israeli city
of Ashkelon, March 10, 2012. (Reuters/ Amir Cohen)
GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Gaza militants claimed responsibility for firing rockets into southern Israel, as two missiles landed in a residential area in Israeli city Beersheba on Sunday.
Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed 18 Palestinians since Friday, when the assassination of the head of the Popular Resistance Committees sparked a volley of rockets by militant groups into south Israel.
The armed wing of Islamic Jihad, whose fighters have been targeted in the airstrikes, said in a statement on Sunday it had fired 87 rockets into Israeli towns and cities, including Beersheba.
Rockets hit an empty school building in the Israeli city, and one person suffered from shock, an Israeli army spokesman said. Since Friday, 35 Palestinians have been injured in Israeli attacks, eight of whom are in a critical condition. Four Israelis were injured, one seriously.
In Gaza early Sunday, Israeli warplanes killed 12-year-old Ayoub Useila in Jabalia refugee camp and farm keeper Adel al-Issi, 52, near Gaza City.
The Israeli army chief Benny Gantz said the military will continue responding "with strength and determination against any firing of rockets at Israel."
"We are prepared to defend the citizens of Israel and to establish severe consequences to any attempt of harming their daily routine," he added, saying that Israel holds Hamas responsible for rocket fire.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh called for Israel to halt the attacks, saying that Egypt was working "around the clock" to end the assault on Gaza, and that Gaza factions had responded positively.
Maan News Agency
Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed 18 Palestinians since Friday, when the assassination of the head of the Popular Resistance Committees sparked a volley of rockets by militant groups into south Israel.
The armed wing of Islamic Jihad, whose fighters have been targeted in the airstrikes, said in a statement on Sunday it had fired 87 rockets into Israeli towns and cities, including Beersheba.
Rockets hit an empty school building in the Israeli city, and one person suffered from shock, an Israeli army spokesman said. Since Friday, 35 Palestinians have been injured in Israeli attacks, eight of whom are in a critical condition. Four Israelis were injured, one seriously.
In Gaza early Sunday, Israeli warplanes killed 12-year-old Ayoub Useila in Jabalia refugee camp and farm keeper Adel al-Issi, 52, near Gaza City.
The Israeli army chief Benny Gantz said the military will continue responding "with strength and determination against any firing of rockets at Israel."
"We are prepared to defend the citizens of Israel and to establish severe consequences to any attempt of harming their daily routine," he added, saying that Israel holds Hamas responsible for rocket fire.
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh called for Israel to halt the attacks, saying that Egypt was working "around the clock" to end the assault on Gaza, and that Gaza factions had responded positively.
No comments:
Post a Comment