PRC threaten retaliation after IDF Gaza strike kills leader
The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) swiftly called for retaliation to an IAF strike in Gaza that killed PRC commander and senior PRC member Ahmad Hanini on Friday. A third man was also injured in the attack.
The IAF struck a vehicle in a move to thwart a large-scale terror attack that was in its last stages of preparation, according to the IDF spokesperson.
The PRC responded with threats to reignite tensions along the testy frontier. "All options are open before the fighters to respond to this despicable crime. The assassination of our chief will not end our resistance," Abu Attiya, a spokesman for the PRC group said.
Fawzi Barhoum, spokesman for the Hamas Islamist government in Gaza, said Israel was responsible for what he called "a grave escalation".
"They want us to sink in darkness and in blood," he added.
A Hamas official said Hanani had been exiled by Israel five years ago, denying earlier reports he had been one of those freed from an Israeli jail last year as part of a prisoner swap deal to gain the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit.
The IDF stated that the attack was part of an operation to thwart the intentions of terrorists to carry out terror attacks in Sinai, along the border between Israel and Egypt. Qaisi had been planning and leading over the past few days, a major terror attack against Israeli targets, and the strike was conducted in order to prevent the attack, the IDF said in a statement.
It added that the IDF was not interested in escalation but was ready to defend Israel and would respond forcefully and decisively against against any attempt at terrorist activity.
The explosion happened shortly after two mortar shells were fired at Israel from the Hamas-ruled territory, causing no damage or injury. The explosions occurred in open fields in the Eshkol regional council, which abuts the border with the Gaza Strip.
Senior IDF officials reacted to the mortal shell attacks, telling Army Radio that they would not allow the firing to continue. The officials expressed surprise that, with no reason, the shooting at civilians from Gaza continued "on Friday too... at villages surrounding Gaza." They also stressed that the mortar shell attacks had been unprovoked, and were carried out when there had been no previous IDF action in Gaza.
13 rockets fired at South; IAF strikes 2 Gaza terror cells
Palestinian terrorists fired thirteen rockets from Gaza into southern Israel on Friday night after an air strike killed the secretary general of the Popular Resistance Committees, Zuhair Qaisi. Three rockets were fired at the greater Ashdod region, where an air raid siren rang out, before three explosions were heard. No injuries or damages were reported.
Since the initial air strike, the IAF continued operations over Gazan skies to track down rocket launching crews, and struck two cells making final preparations to fire high-trajectory rockets into Israel. One of the terror cells was in central Gaza and the other in northern Gaza.
The IDF confirmed hits on its targets.
The Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) swiftly called for retaliation following the first IAF strike that killed Qaisi, as well as senior PRC member Ahmad Hanini. A third man was also injured in the attack. The IAF struck a vehicle in a move to thwart a large-scale terror attack that was in its last stages of preparation, according to the IDF spokesperson.
Qaisi was one of the planners of the deadly terror attack last August on Route 12 near the Egyptian border, in which eight Israelis were murdered. In 2008, he was involved in a terror attack on a gas depot at Nahal Oz. He was also involved in the carrying out of rocket and mortar attacks on southern Israel, and oversaw the transfer of funds from Hezbollah to terrorist organizations in Gaza. Hanini, in the past, dispatched a suicide bomber into Israel.
The PRC responded with threats to reignite tensions along the testy frontier. "All options are open before the fighters to respond to this despicable crime. The assassination of our chief will not end our resistance," Abu Attiya, a spokesman for the PRC group said.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Israel was responsible for what he called "a grave escalation."
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the strike.
The IDF stated that the attack was part of an operation to thwart the intentions of terrorists to carry out terror attacks in Sinai, along the border between Israel and Egypt. Qaisi had been planning and leading over the past few days, a major terror attack against Israeli targets, and the strike was conducted in order to prevent the attack, the IDF said in a statement.
It added that the IDF was not interested in escalation but was ready to defend Israel and would respond forcefully and decisively against against any attempt at terrorist activity.
The first IAF strike happened shortly after two mortar shells were fired at Israel from the Hamas-ruled territory, causing no damage or injury. The explosions occurred in open fields in the Eshkol regional council, which abuts the border with the Gaza Strip.
Senior IDF officials reacted to the mortal shell attacks, telling Army Radio that they would not allow the firing to continue. The officials expressed surprise that, with no reason, the shooting at civilians from Gaza continued "on Friday too... at villages surrounding Gaza." They also stressed that the mortar shell attacks had been unprovoked, and were carried out when there had been no previous IDF action in Gaza.
Reuters contributed to this report
Hamas blames Israel for 'grave escalation' in South
"They want us to sink in darkness and in blood," he added.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also condemned the strike, saying that the escalation had caused a negative atmosphere, triggering a new round of violence in the region.
Terrorists pounded southern Israel with rockets on Friday night, after an air strike killed the secretary general of the Popular Resistance Committees, Zuhair Qaisi.
Since the initial air strike, the IAF continued operations over Gazan skies to track down rocket launching crews, and struck two cells making final preparations to fire high-trajectory rockets into Israel. One of the terror cells was in central Gaza and the other in northern Gaza.
The IDF confirmed hits on its targets.
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