IDF strikes Gaza after Sderot rocket fire following Jenin op

IDF strikes Gaza after Sderot rocket fire following Jenin op

TZVI JOFFRE

 

The IDF struck the Gaza Strip early Wednesday morning after five rockets were fired from the Strip toward the Sderot area in southern Israel on Tuesday night, just hours after the IDF withdrew its forces from Jenin.

All five rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome. A house in Sderot was hit by shrapnel from one of the rockets, according to the Sderot Municipality. No injuries were reported.

A site in the northern Gaza Strip near Beit Lahia and a site west of Gaza City were hit by IAF airstrikes, according to Palestinian reports. The IDF stated that it struck an underground facility used by Hamas's chemical division to manufacture weapons, as well as a Hamas site for the manufacture of raw materials for rockets.

"This attack constitutes an injury to the ability of the terrorist organization Hamas to strengthen and arm itself," said the IDF Spokesperson's Unit. "The terrorist organization Hamas bears responsibility for what is happening in the Gaza Strip and is the one who will pay for the security violations against the State of Israel."

The rocket fire is the first rocket fire from Gaza since Operation Shield and Arrow in May and came shortly after Israeli forces exited Jenin after a nearly two-day long operation in the West Bank city.

At least 12 Palestinians were killed and dozens others were injured in the Israeli operation in Jenin, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. An Israeli soldier was killed in armed clashes during the operation in the city as well.

Hamas leader: The time has passed when Israel attacks without paying the price

After the Israeli forces withdrew from Jenin on Tuesday night, Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, stated that "all options for supporting Jenin and its heroes were on the table" during the operation.

"We have sent clear messages to the enemy through all parties that the resistance in all arenas is not far from what is happening, and the enemy must stop its aggression immediately," added Haniyeh. "We say to the enemy that the time has passed when you practice your aggression against our people without paying the price, and