Incessant rocket fire on south Israel prompts another IDF strike in Gaza; one rocket lands near police sappers, but no one hurt

Thirteen Qassam rockets fired by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza Tuesday afternoon landed in open areas within the Negev´s Eshkol Regional Council. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Shortly after the rocket salvo, Israeli aircraft struck a target in the Gaza Strip. The IDF said its target was destroyed. Palestinian sources in the Hamas-ruled territory said one person was severely wounded in what they called a targeted killing attempt.

The sources said the aircraft targeted a motorcycle travelling in Dir el-Balah in central Gaza. The injured man was evacuated to Gaza City´s Shifa Hospital, they said.

One of the rockets fired from Gaza exploded about a hundred meters from Negev police sub-district sappers who were canvassing the area in search of rocket landing sites. The IDF has instructed Eshkol residents to enter fortified spaces.

Another Qassam landed in a wheat field. Firefighters were alerted to the scene to contain a fire that erupted at the site.

All of the rockets were fired in the span of about an hour.

Overnight, rockets fired from Gaza landed in the Ashkelon area. The army detected the launching of four rockets, which apparently exploded in open areas. No one was hurt in that attack either.

Hamas´ military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the attack. A statement by the group said that the rockets were meant to hit the Zikim army base. On Tuesday, alert level in the Gaza vicinity communities was raised.

Shortly after midnight Israeli aircraft fired at a Palestinian terror cell as its members were attempting to plant an explosive device near the central Gaza Strip border fence.

The army said the attack target was hit. Palestinian sources later confirmed that the attack left two terrorists dead.

The attack marked the third Israeli airstrike in the Strip in the past 24 hours.

Monday evening saw Israeli aircraft strike a terror cell as it prepared to fire rockets at Israel. Two terrorists were killed in that strike, including a member of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The strike was carried out after a rocket exploded in southern Israel, causing no injuries. After the attack, another rocket fired from Gaza landed in an open area in Sderot.

Earlier Monday, the Israel Air Force struck targets in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian sources said two Islamic Jihad terrorists were killed in the attack. The army said the operation was unrelated to Monday´s terror attack on the Israel-Egypt border, and came in response to recent sniper fire. (Copyright 2012 © Yedioth Internet 06/19/12)