Monday, March 12, 2012

Gaza militants claim rocket fire into Israel

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Militant groups in Gaza announced responsibility for firing rockets across the border as the Israeli army said 42 projectiles landed in Israel.

The Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said it fired 30 rockets into Israel.

The armed wing of Islamic Jihad, the Al-Quds Brigades, said it fired four Grad rockets toward Ashdod, while the An-Nasser Salah Ad-Din Brigades -- affiliated with the Popular Resistance Committees -- said it launched three Nasser rockets and four projectiles at Israeli targets.

Leaders from Islamic Jihad and the PRC were among the 23 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since Friday, as well as civilians including a teenager, a 12-year-old boy, an elderly man and his daughter.

The An-Nasser Salah Ad Din Brigades and the Abdul Qader Al-Husseini Brigades announced that they fired two missiles toward Erez and Sderot military targets and an Aqsa rocket at Ashkelon.

The Al-Aqsa Martyr Brigades, affiliated with Fatah, said it fired two rockets across the border.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said 42 rockets hit southern Israel, and reached the Gedera area, around 28 kilometers from Tel Aviv.

The projectiles caused no casualties but Israeli police said three people were wounded.

The latest escalation began after Israel assassinated the head of the Popular Resistance Committees near Gaza City on Friday.

Israel signaled that it would not halt what it calls "preventive targeting" operations aimed at stopping rocket fire and cross-border attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told members of his Likud party in Parliament: "The Israeli army will continue to attack the terrorists in Gaza with strength and determination."

He also said the Israeli military was prepared to widen its operations and continue them for as long as necessary.

Washington -- Israel's principle ally -- and the United Nations expressed concern at the violence.

"Once again civilians are paying a terrible price," Ban told the UN Security Council.

He denounced rocket attacks on Israel as "unacceptable" and urged Israel to "exercise maximum restraint."

In her remarks to the council, Clinton condemned the rocket fire at Israel and urged both sides to restore calm. But she did not specifically mention the Israeli air strikes nor the dozens of Palestinian casualties.

France and Russia also both appealed for an end to the fighting and stressed the need to avoid civilian suffering.

Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al-Arabi issued a statement in Cairo condemning the Israeli raids and urged the Security Council to step in and "stop the aggression."
Maan News Agency

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