IAF pounds Hamas targets after rocket fire toward Beersheba

Pompeo: Until we address Iran’s threats, the cycle of violence will continue

Israel struck Hamas targets in Gaza after two rockets were launched toward Beersheba early on Saturday morning. The IDF believes Hamas was responsible for firing the rockets, which were intercepted by Iron Dome.

It was the latest violation of a ceasefire understanding that was put in place on Thursday morning after two days of heavy fighting between Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the IDF. Since then, sporadic rocket fire against Israel has threatened the fragile agreement, which was worked out in Cairo with the help of

Egypt and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov.

Saturday morning’s exchange of fire marked the first time since the renewal of Israel-Gaza violence on November 12 that Hamas was involved in the conflict. On Friday, to help maintain calm, Hamas canceled the weekly

Great March of Return protest by the Gaza border.

Until Saturday, all the violence of the last five days had

been solely between the IDF and PIJ. Israel had also refrained during that time from holding Hamas responsible for the rocket fire against Israel.

On Saturday, however, the IDF began to once again speak of Hamas.

“The Hamas terror organization is responsible for everything in the Gaza Strip and will bear the consequences of terror acts carried out against Israeli citizens,” the IDF said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for the latest round of Israel-Gaza violence.

“Iran uses its terrorist proxy Palestinian Islamic Jihad to strike our great ally Israel. Iran does not want peace in the region. It does not want the Palestinian people to prosper. It wants more conflict. Until we address Iran’s threats, the cycle of violence will continue,” he said.

Pompeo said its actions prove that international pressure is needed to curb Tehran’s aggression.

“The way forward is clear: continued pressure until Iran negotiates a comprehensive agreement that includes halting its support to terror groups like PIJ. Nations around the world can no longer claim to want peace in the region yet allow Iran’s threats to go unchallenged.”

Over the weekend, Hamas and PIJ worked to reconcile their differences and to give the appearances of a united front in the Gaza Strip.

In the South around 2 a.m. on Saturday, incoming rocket sirens were activated in Beersheba, Segev Shalom, Lakiya, Omer and Bedouin areas. Both rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome.

Magen David Adom paramedics provided medical attention to nine people, all of them in mild condition, including five for shock and four who fell on their way to bomb shelters.

In retaliation, the IDF said it struck a military camp, a compound for the group’s naval forces and underground terror infrastructure. Palestinian Wafa news agency said the strike was carried out by 10 missiles fired at targets northwest of Gaza City and

Beit Lahiya.

The violence began on Tuesday morning when the IDF carried out a targeted killing of Bahaa Abu al-Ata, one of the group’s top commanders, labeled by the military and Prime Minister’s Office as a “ticking time bomb.”

More than 400 rockets and mortars were fired by PIJ toward southern and central Israel, leading to dozens of retaliatory strikes against PIJ targets and operatives preparing to fire rockets into Israel.

The military said 90% of rockets headed toward residential areas were intercepted by the Iron Dome, while another 60% landed in open fields. Others struck homes, businesses and streets, causing significant property damage.

According to MDA, paramedics have treated 84 people for injuries sustained since fighting broke out on Tuesday, including three with physical wounds, 34 lightly injured who were wounded on their way to the shelters and an additional 43 people with stress symptoms. •