The missile fired by the Israel Air Force military aircraft struck a house in the town, killing a woman and her brother and injuring 14 other people. A third victim, the dead woman’s daughter, died of her wounds a short while later. Several children and one pregnant woman were among those injured by flying shrapnel.
The target of the strike was one of the leaders in the Popular Resistance Committees, a local terror group which acts as an umbrella organization for members of other terrorist groups involved in attacks on Israel. The target and fellow terrorists were on their way to launch a rocket attack against Israel at the time.
The IAF missile was fired at a jeep carrying the enemy operatives as they passed a house on the outskirts of the town. The men jumped out of the car ahead of the explosion and ran into a nearby field.
The IDF confirmed that it carried out an air strike against a terrorist cell. A spokeswoman expressed regret for the civilian deaths and injuries. She said the IAF had fired the missile while the jeep was traveling in a relatively unpopulated area of the town specifically in order to avoid civilian casualties.
"What happened in this case was that the missile simply missed," said the spokeswoman.
Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz ordered a comprehensive investigation into the recent IDF military strikes against Palestinian Authority terrorists in Gaza, in light of the civilian casualities.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas reportedly warned terrorists on Tuesday that rocket attacks on Israel were becoming counterproductive and would prompt a harsh response from IDF forces.
"President Abbas called on all military groups in Gaza to stop launching rockets at Israel and to fully comply with the truce with Israel," said Abbas aide Nabil Abu Rudeineh in a statement.
"President Abbas holds any group and any faction that violates the truce fully responsible for the destruction and demolitions and victims that will result,” he said.
The target of the strike was one of the leaders in the Popular Resistance Committees, a local terror group which acts as an umbrella organization for members of other terrorist groups involved in attacks on Israel. The target and fellow terrorists were on their way to launch a rocket attack against Israel at the time.
The IAF missile was fired at a jeep carrying the enemy operatives as they passed a house on the outskirts of the town. The men jumped out of the car ahead of the explosion and ran into a nearby field.
The IDF confirmed that it carried out an air strike against a terrorist cell. A spokeswoman expressed regret for the civilian deaths and injuries. She said the IAF had fired the missile while the jeep was traveling in a relatively unpopulated area of the town specifically in order to avoid civilian casualties.
"What happened in this case was that the missile simply missed," said the spokeswoman.
Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz ordered a comprehensive investigation into the recent IDF military strikes against Palestinian Authority terrorists in Gaza, in light of the civilian casualities.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas reportedly warned terrorists on Tuesday that rocket attacks on Israel were becoming counterproductive and would prompt a harsh response from IDF forces.
"President Abbas called on all military groups in Gaza to stop launching rockets at Israel and to fully comply with the truce with Israel," said Abbas aide Nabil Abu Rudeineh in a statement.
"President Abbas holds any group and any faction that violates the truce fully responsible for the destruction and demolitions and victims that will result,” he said.