At least 16 Israelis injured by Palestinian rocket attacks

Israel vowed a tough response to rocket attacks from Gaza terror groups, which erupted after an IDF mission on Sunday evening resulted in the death of a senior Hamas commander and an Israeli intelligence officer.

By Associated Press and World Israel News Staff

Monday evening capped off a day of intense rocket attacks mounted by Palestinian terror groups operating in the Gaza Strip.

The IDF reported that over 200 rockets had been fired from the coastal enclave, injuring at least 16 people, including a 19-year-old soldier who remained in critical condition.

One mortar exploded as it hit a bus, just moments after dozens of soldiers had exited it.

Gaza’s Hamas rulers and the smaller Islamic Jihad group both took credit for the rocket barrage, which rained down on Israel’s south on Monday.

Israel’s military said it was prepared to step up its efforts against terrorists in the Gaza Strip if rocket fire continues, and by early Monday evening the IDF hit terrorist positions in the strip in around 30 strikes.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said Monday that Israel has boosted forces near the Gaza border with additional infantry troops, defensive systems and intelligence units.

Conricus told reporters that the army has so far struck more than 30 targets belonging to the Palestinian terror groups, warning that Hamas is “bringing destruction upon the Gaza Strip.”

Earlier in the day, Palestinian health officials claimed Israeli airstrikes in the northern Gaza Strip killed two people and wounded another three.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was slated to meet with his military chief and defense minister late Monday.