Israel bombs Hamas target in response to rocket attack

Israel’s Air Force responded to the increasing rocket fire from Gaza that had Israeli residents in the south running for cover late Sunday evening.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

Terrorists from Hamas-ruled Gaza disturbed the holiday festivities Sunday night when they launched a rocket at Israel’s civilian population in southern Israel.

The rocket landed late at night in an open area in the Eshkol Regional Council, causing no injuries or damage.

Another rocket was reportedly launched, but fell short of its target inside Gaza.

In response, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) attacked a Hamas terror site in the northern Gaza Strip.

“Firing a rocket at peoples’ homes is a clear, cowardly and cruel act of terrorism,” IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner stated after the incident. “Whether it’s a rocket attack, a shooting, a stabbing or any other form of aggression meant to terrorize civilians, the IDF will not tolerate it. We will continue safeguarding all Israeli civilians whose lives are put in harm’s way.”

Israel holds Hamas responsible for all attacks emanating from Gaza, which is under their control, and therefore retaliated against their terror infrastructure.

No terror organization took responsibility for the attack, but the sharp increase in rocket fire from the Strip over recent months has mostly been the work of an ISIS affiliate operating out of Gaza.

Since the beginning of 2015, terrorists fired 16 rockets at Israeli targets from Gaza. Several others were launched, albeit unsuccessfully, with some landing in the Strip.

This latest  attack came amid the week-long Sukkot holiday celebrations, following several attacks in the past two weeks and amid a wave of deadly terror attacks in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria.