The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com The IDF struck targets belonging to Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip late Friday night in response to rockets fired from Gaza into Israeli territory earlier in the night.
During the IDF operation, a rocket weapon production site was targeted, in addition to underground infrastructure and a Hamas military post.
Two Palestinians were reportedly lightly injured as a result of the attack. According to Ynet, a source in Gaza said that shrapnel caused by the bombing hit a hospital for children and a center for disabled persons situated in Gaza.
“Attacks by the IDF won’t break the will of the Palestinian people, but strengthen their resolve to insist on their rights,” a Hamas statement released after the attacks read.
Earlier Friday night, sirens sounded in the Gaza border communities of Ashkelon, Mavki’im, Karmiya, Zikim and Nativ Ha’asara.
The IDF confirmed soon after that its Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted two missiles above the city of Ashkelon.
One woman was reportedly taken to Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon to be treated for anxiety following the interception.
The last rocket attack launched on Israel occurred a month ago on November 21. It was not intercepted by the Iron Dome and instead landed on a factory causing damage.
A week prior, two rockets were launched towards Israel. However, Israeli defense forces estimated that the attack occurred by accident after lightning struck a loaded rocket-launcher, Kan News reported.
Palestinian sources claimed at the time that neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Islamic Jihad had intended for the attack to happen, and would therefore investigate the reportedly accidental launch.
