As a result of Palestinian sniper fire, an IDF soldier was seriously injured an evacuated to hospital for treatment.
His family has been notified.
In response to the fire, the IDF said that it carried out attacks on relevant targets in Gaza, with both tank fire and an air strike. The incident occurred on the border between Israel and southern Gaza. Israel's return fire targeted Hamas positions.
Farmers in the Eshkol Regional Council and Sdot Negev Regional Council were instructed to halt any work within a kilometer of the Gaza border fence. The police later said that as a result of a security incident in the Gaza border area, several roads were closed in the Eshkol Regional Council. It was not immediately clear if the road closures were connected to the exchange of fire or a separate event.
Hamas media reported that a Hamas field commander, Tayseer Asmairi, was killed by the IDF fire and several people were injured.
Hamas warned Israel that it was "playing with fire," calling the incident "a grave escalation." The Hamas statement added that "The occupation is fully responsible for all of the consequences of the escalation. The resistance has a right to defend itself and its people."
"This is a severe incident - the second within a week - in which quiet has been callously violated. The IDF will continue to respond to every attempt to harm Israeli soldiers and civilians. Hamas is responsible for safeguarding the quiet in the Strip," the military said in a statement.
The incident comes after a rocket was fired from Gaza into southern Israel on Friday, prompting the first IAF retaliatory strikes in the Strip since Operation Protective Edge ended in August.
[jpost.com]
24/12/14
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Netanyahu after sniper attack: Israel will respond strongly against all violence from Gaza ...
ReplyDeleteIsrael will respond strongly and with determination against all attacks in the south, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday, commenting on the IDF's response to the sniper fire from Gaza.
“We will respond with force every time there is an attempt to disturb the quiet that was attained in the south after Operation Protective Edge,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said Israel would not accept a deterioration in the security situation on the Gaza border.
“Hamas needs to understand that if it continues to undermine the security situation on the Gaza border, it risks a harsh Israeli response, which could turn into a comprehensive military campaign to demolish its government and military infrastructure,” he said...............http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Netanyahu-after-sniper-attack-Israel-will-respond-strongly-against-all-attacks-from-Gaza-385629
24/12/14