The IDF continued Saturday night to carry out the government policy of bombing Gaza smuggling tunnels—but only after terrorists attack Israel with missiles. A Kassam rocket struck an open area near a Gaza belt community Saturday, causing no damage or injuries.
One of the tunnels collapsed, killing one person, and injuring two others.
The Air Force quickly retaliated several hours later, bombing three tunnels used to smuggle weapons and terrorists. Some of the tunnels are designed to help terrorists kidnap Israeli civilians and soldiers.
Despite their known presence and purpose, the IDF has refrained from bombing the tunnels, except in retaliatory operations. Saturday night’s F-16 attacks hit tunnels near Rafiah, which straddles the Egyptian border, and Khan Yunis, located in south-central Gaza and adjacent to the sites of former Jewish communities the government destroyed in 2005, when Israel withdrew all military presence from the area.
The “disengagement” policy was trumpeted at the time as a move that would end once and for all Gaza-based terrorists attacks on southern Israel. More than 100 rockets and mortars have been fired at Israelis since the beginning of 2010, and over 400 rockets were fired from Gaza since the end of Operation Cast Lead more than a year and a half ago.
Hamas has threatened to continue attacking Israelis following the murder of four civilians from a Hevron area community last week.
“The IDF remains committed to protecting the citizens of Israel and will continue to act against terror. The IDF holds Hamas solely responsible for terror emanating from Gaza,” IDF spokesmen said.