Following rocket fire from Gaza last night, the IDF retaliated, destroying a Hamas weapons production site in the northern Gaza Strip, even though the Qatari Envoy to Gaza was in the hotel next door.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Several Palestinians were lightly injured after IDF fighter jets attacked a Hamas weapons production site in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian media.

According to the Palestinian Al-Quds newspaper, the Qatari Envoy to Gaza Muhammad al-Emadi was in a hotel right next to the site of the attack. Al-Emadi arrived to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.

In addition, the Gaza fishing range has been reduced to 10 nautical miles Thursday morning, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Major General Kamil Abu Rukun, announced.

Hamas proudly has its combatants photographed as they prepare to launch rockets on Israeli civilian communities.

The IDF fire and the reduction of the fishing range came in response to a rocket fired from Gaza toward Israel overnight on Wednesday (Thursday morning). The rocket was intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome. The IDF Spokespersons Unit stressed that Israel holds Hamas responsible for all actions in and from the Gaza Strip and that the terrorist group will suffer the consequences of any action against Israeli citizens.

“I think we know fairly well how to analyze who’s behind things and to act accordingly,” said Deputy Defense Minister Avi Dichter on Thursday, according to Kan news. “All the tools aren’t taken out in every [situation]. The agreement [between Hamas and Israel] is a tactical issue that connects our interests and Hamas’ interests, not in order to solve the root issue in Gaza.”

SCREENSHOT from footage of the militant approaching the Gaza border – Photo: IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit

On Wednesday night, the IDF reported that the Israeli Air Force opened fire at an armed terrorist who approached the border in the southern Gaza Strip, near Khan Yunis

This latest round of rocket-retaliation comes after last month’s larger scale escalation, which resulted from Israel’s assassination of senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist, Baha Abu al-Ata.

Two people were injured during the rocket fire, one is in a state of shock from the alarm and the other was lightly injured while running to shelter. They were treated at the Brazilai hospital.

MK Yair Lapid of Blue and White responded on his twitter account to the Wednesday night’s Gaza rocket fire, saying: “It’s an alarming failure on every level.”

“The lack of any sort of policy regarding Gaza, meager responses and empty words about a cease fire, an agreement, containment and occasional leniency again and again bring the citizens of the Gaza border communities to an unfathomable situation. There are no magic solutions, but there’s lots to do. For that one needs a good and functional government. Deterrence is brought back by force.” Lapid wrote.

(MK Yair Lapid’s rhetoric comes as an opposition leader within the Blue and White party, headed by MK Benny Gantz – Israel and Stuff)
Very top photo: An Israeli rocket is fired into the northern Gaza Strip July 17, 2014. – Photo: REUTERS

View original The Jerusalem Post publication at:
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Canada-stands-with-Palestinians-refusing-to-change-UNGA-vote-611343

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