Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon stressed Thursday that the IDF would continue attacking all terror threats against Israel, inside Gaza or out.
“Even if the groups that fired rockets at Israel Wednesday night were gangs of disaffected jihadists seeking to challenge Hamas by attacking us, we see Hamas as responsible for these attacks. We will not tolerate attacks on our civilians.”
The Israeli Air Force attacked three terrorist infrastructures in Gaza on Wednesday night, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said. The attack came in retaliation for the rocket fire on southern Israel on Wednesday evening.
"The IDF views the incident seriously,” the IDF Spokesperson asserted, adding that Hamas, being the de facto ruler of Gaza, is responsible for any rocket fire from the region.
“Red Alert” rocket sirens were heard on Wednesday at around 11:00 p.m. (local time) in some communities in southern Israel, among them in the Ashkelon and Netivot areas. Two rockets from Gaza exploded in the Sdot Negev region. There were no physical injuries or damages.
“I would recommend that Gazan terrorists not try Israel's patience,” Ya'alon said Thursday. “We will not compromise on our citizens' security, and we will not allow a reversion to the 'drop by drop' slow, once a day rocket attacks against us."
“Last night the IDF struck back against terrorists, and if need be we will strike back with even greater force,” Ya'alon vowed. “I think we proved that last summer,” during Operation Protective Edge.
“We operate with determination, responsibility, and intelligence to ensure the security of residents of southern Israel," he stressed.