The Israeli military carried out a series of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip late Sunday, targeting Hamas positions in response to a Palestinian rocket attack that hit an Israeli border town earlier in the day.
Palestinian Health Ministry official Ashraf al—Qidra said two Palestinians, including a 17—year—old boy, were lightly wounded.
Palestinian officials said nearly all of the airstrikes took place in northern Gaza, near the Israeli border. While most of the attacks targeted Hamas, the Islamic militant group that controls Gaza, one struck a military camp used by the smaller Islamic Jihad group.
Lt. Col Peter Lerner, an Israeli military spokesman, said the operation was meant “to bring quiet to the people of southern Israel.” He accused Hamas of trying to “inflict pain, cause fear and to terrorize” Israelis in the middle of the summer vacation period.
Sunday’s rocket attack struck the Israeli border town of Sderot in the middle of the day and disrupted what has been a quiet summer in the volatile area. The rocket landed in a residential area, exploding next to a house. There were no injuries.
Israel responded quickly with airstrikes and tank fire, and then carried out a second round of airstrikes shortly before midnight.
Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the group’s military wing, said Hamas, which is sworn to Israel’s destruction, would continue its struggle against Israel until “victory is achieved.”
