December 22, 2008
GAZA CITY: The Israeli military is preparing to escalate its activities in response to continuing rocket and mortar fire into Israel from Gaza.
Israeli forces launched air strikes on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing one Palestinian gunman and wounding three people as rocket and mortar fire from the territory hit southern Israel.
Security sources told Israel's Haaretz newspaper a tougher policy would be drafted in coming days for dealing with rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
The paper reported that Israel would ratchet up its air strikes, which would no longer be limited to hitting rocket-launching groups, they would also target weapons stores and workshops, as well as the heads of networks involved in launching rockets.
Israel's attack came amid international calls for calm one day after Hamas ended its six-month truce, but with internal pressure on the Israeli Government to take tough action.
The Israeli attack took place near the northern town of Jabaliya, when warplanes fired three missiles at militants said to be preparing to launch rockets.
Ali Hijazi, 24, a member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades group loosely affiliated to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, was killed in the attack, witnesses said.
One civilian and two militants were wounded, with two in critical condition, Palestinian emergency services spokesman Muawiya Hassanein said.
The Al-Aqsa Brigades identified Hijazi as its local commander and said the dead man, who was to have been married yesterday, was responsible for handling rocket attacks on Israel.
"We won't delay our response to this assassination. All options are open and the reaction will come from all Palestinian groups," said brigades spokesman Abu Thaer.
An Israeli army spokesman said 10 rockets fired from the Gaza area had hit Israel on Saturday, without causing any casualties or damage.
Militants also fired 25 mortar rounds, one of which hit an empty medical centre near the Gaza border.
The Islamic Jihad movement claimed responsibility for firing the rockets, while the armed wing of Hamas, the Islamist rulers of the besieged Palestinian enclave, said it had fired 19 mortar rounds at Israel.
Tensions have been running high in and around Gaza since Hamas said on Saturday it would end its June 19 truce with Israel because it had achieved nothing.
Hamas and Israel have both said they will respond if attacked, but neither has said it would go on the offensive at this stage.
GAZA CITY: The Israeli military is preparing to escalate its activities in response to continuing rocket and mortar fire into Israel from Gaza.
Israeli forces launched air strikes on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing one Palestinian gunman and wounding three people as rocket and mortar fire from the territory hit southern Israel.
Security sources told Israel's Haaretz newspaper a tougher policy would be drafted in coming days for dealing with rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
The paper reported that Israel would ratchet up its air strikes, which would no longer be limited to hitting rocket-launching groups, they would also target weapons stores and workshops, as well as the heads of networks involved in launching rockets.
Israel's attack came amid international calls for calm one day after Hamas ended its six-month truce, but with internal pressure on the Israeli Government to take tough action.
The Israeli attack took place near the northern town of Jabaliya, when warplanes fired three missiles at militants said to be preparing to launch rockets.
Ali Hijazi, 24, a member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades group loosely affiliated to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, was killed in the attack, witnesses said.
One civilian and two militants were wounded, with two in critical condition, Palestinian emergency services spokesman Muawiya Hassanein said.
The Al-Aqsa Brigades identified Hijazi as its local commander and said the dead man, who was to have been married yesterday, was responsible for handling rocket attacks on Israel.
"We won't delay our response to this assassination. All options are open and the reaction will come from all Palestinian groups," said brigades spokesman Abu Thaer.
An Israeli army spokesman said 10 rockets fired from the Gaza area had hit Israel on Saturday, without causing any casualties or damage.
Militants also fired 25 mortar rounds, one of which hit an empty medical centre near the Gaza border.
The Islamic Jihad movement claimed responsibility for firing the rockets, while the armed wing of Hamas, the Islamist rulers of the besieged Palestinian enclave, said it had fired 19 mortar rounds at Israel.
Tensions have been running high in and around Gaza since Hamas said on Saturday it would end its June 19 truce with Israel because it had achieved nothing.
Hamas and Israel have both said they will respond if attacked, but neither has said it would go on the offensive at this stage.
Source: The Australian
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