Israeli jets strike Gaza after rocket fire pinned on Hamas
Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on targets in Gaza overnight in retaliation to rocket fire directed at Israeli territory earlier in the day. Although an ISIS-affiliated group claimed responsibility for the attack, Israel holds Hamas responsible.
Witnesses reported at least four airstrikes in the Gaza strip early Monday, conducted by Israeli F-16 jets while drones were seen circling the airspace.
#BREAKING| 3 Airstrike by Israeli F16 till now on some area of #Gaza strip ..
#GazaUnderAttack
— Said Shoaib | Gaza (@saidshouib) October 4, 2015
The strikes apparently targeted sites of the Palestinian Hamas organization’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades. Reports suggested that the Abu Jarad training site and Bader camp in the central Gaza Strip were hit.
Even though no injuries were reported during the Israeli air strikes on central & south Gaza city, they have left some serious damage. #Gaza
— صايل (@Pxlestine) October 5, 2015
There were no immediate reports of casualties from the air raid.
#Palestine | #BREAKING : 4 Israeli airstrikes on Military sites of the #Qassam Brigades in #Gazapic.twitter.com/auLx6a0XGt
— INC World (@INCWorldAgency) October 4, 2015
On Sunday evening two rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, with one exploding on the Gazan side of the border. The second rocket exploded in an open area of the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damages, local media reported. Both rockets were fired shortly after 11:00pm local time.
Rocket launched from Gaza landed in S. Israel. Moments after, sirens sounded in S. Israel indicating an additional rocket attack
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) October 4, 2015
An Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner confirmed that an IAF aircraft had targeted a "Hamas terror site" in response to Sunday evening's rocket attack.
In response to this evenings rocket attack, IAF aircraft targeted a #Hamas terror site in the northern #Gaza Strip.
— Peter Lerner (@LTCPeterLerner) October 5, 2015
A Salafist organization in the Gaza strip – the Omar Brigade, affiliated with Islamic State – claimed responsibility for the rocket fire which targeted Israel, according to Israeli media.
ISIS affiliated group in Gaza claims rocket attack on Israel http://t.co/GntWwGmY3m#ArabIsraeliConflictpic.twitter.com/jymITZn0tS
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 5, 2015
However, Israel maintains that Hamas is fully responsible for any attacks coming from the territory under its control, and is not hesitating to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.
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