Israel bombs Gaza in retaliation for rocket attack

IAF targets smuggling tunnel and defunct Gaza airport as Qassam hits Israel hours after restart of peace talks.

By Haaretz Service and DPA




 Israel Air Force planes bombed two targets in the southern Gaza in the early hours on Monday warning in retaliation for a rocket attack on Saturday night, the army said. 

The rocket attack came hours after Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed to restart peace talks under American mediation. 

Hamas officials said IAF targeted a smuggling tunnel, one of hundreds dug by Palestinians under the border with Egypt, and the nearby inoperative Gaza airport, which stopped flights after the second Palestinian uprising erupted against Israel in late 2000. 

No casualties were reported in the two attacks, launched shortly after midnight. 

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, had warned against renewing negotiations, which had been stalled for 18 months – but it was unclear whether Hamas or another group fired the rocket, which landed in open ground near Ashkelon, causing no damage. 

The army said in a statement: "The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm the citizens of the State of Israel and will continue to operate against those who use terror. The IDF holds Hamas as solely responsible for maintaining peace and quiet in the Gaza Strip." 

Around 50 rockets have landed in Israeli territory since the beginning of 2010, the IDF said.

Note:  Keep on them, Israel - while the UN Human Rights and the rest of the world remains silent about Hamas and their on-going terrorist attacks against the civilians living in Israel.  Oh, be sure to bring up the intent of these Arabs in Gaza at your peace talks with Abbas and Mitchell.    Bee Sting