Gaza-based terrorists continued to test Israel’s determination to stop rocket and mortar shelling attacks and were met with another aerial strafing on Sunday following more strikes on the Western Negev. At least two Islamic Jihad terrorists were killed. None of the mortar shells and rockets caused any injuries or damage. The IDF denied Arab claims that soldiers fired at and killed two terrorists in a shooting clash.
Awad Abu Nasir, one of the operatives killed, was one of the terror organization's senior field commanders and is known to be behind dozens of bombing and gunfire attacks. The Air Force also targeted and identified hitting a squad of terror operatives who were preparing to fire rockets from the central Gaza strip into Israel, military spokesmen said.
They noted that Hamas and allied terrorists have attacked Israel with more than 300 rockets and mortars since the end of Operation Cast Lead last year. Last week, the Air Force struck terrorist tunnels and a weapons factory in central and southern Gaza in the strongest show of force since Cast Lead.
The IDF vowed it “will not tolerate the firing of rockets by terrorist organizations at Israel and will continue to respond against any attempt to disrupt the calm in Israel's southern communities.” The aerial attack, the second in three days, followed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s warning earlier on Sunday of a “powerful” response to continued attacks.
He told the Cabinet Sunday morning, “Iran smuggles in missiles and rockets" into Gaza.”
Foreign media noted that the escalation of violence from Gaza may complicate efforts by the United States to pressure the Palestinian Authority and Israel for a resumption in talks towards the creation of a new PA state within Israel’s current borders.
Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized that PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas continues to violate previous agreements by encouraging incitement against Israel. Last week. Abbas used the term “martyrs” to describe three terrorists killed by the IDF after they murdered a rabbi in Samaria.
The Prime Minister also noted that the PA named a public square for a terrorist involved in a lethal 1978 bus attack in Israel.
“Incitement continues in the Palestinian media and education system, in its official media outlets and in the schools under its supervision," he said. "These serious actions represent a harsh violation of the Palestinians' international obligations. This is not how peace is made. Peace is made by educating towards reconciliation, by encouraging good neighborly relations and by developing mutual respect."