Israeli air strikes killed seven Hamas gunmen earlier today, the Islamist group´s armed wing said, making it their highest single death toll since a 2012 cross-border war with the Jewish state.
Israeli military authorities confirmed the strikes, saying they “responded to rocket attacks against southern Israel,”targeting 9 “terror” sites and concealed rocket launchers.
Hamas said the strikes were launched at a gathering point for its members in Gaza´s southern-most town of Rafah, at the Egyptian border.
The attacks followed a surge in rocket strikes at Israel from Gaza, where Hamas is the dominant force. The Israeli military said these attacks have topped 150 since mid-June, including about 20 rockets striking Israel on Sunday alone.
pledged to his cabinet on Sunday “to do whatever is necessary” to restore quiet to southern Israeli communities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also cautioned against any rush toward wider confrontation with the group, whose arsenal includes long-range rockets that can reach Israel´s heartland and its business capital, Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile tensions remain high over the burning alive of a 16 year old Palestinian teenager by suspected Jewish extremists. No suspects have been arrested fro the tragedy as yet.
