© Nir Elias / ReutersAn Israeli F-15I fighter jet
"IDF forces attacked 25 terrorist targets of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip," Israeli military said in a statement on Tuesday evening. The list of targets included alleged facilities manufacturing rocket launchers, rocket engines and advanced naval weapons, the IDF said. In addition, the Israeli forces targeted military compounds and training camps.
Israeli actions came in response to an increased wave of attacks blamed on Hamas, "which bears responsibility for all events in the Gaza Strip," the IDF said. The military noted that they will continue to decisively respond with a "wide range of tools" against Hamas actions that threaten Israeli citizens.
"The IDF is prepared for a variety of scenarios and is determined to act against terrorist operatives and will continue to carry out its mission to protect the citizens of Israel," the statement said.
At least four Israelis, three soldiers and a civilian, were wounded by shrapnel as over 70 mortar shells and rockets were launched at southern Israel on Tuesday, according to the IDF. A large number of projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system, while sirens continue to disturb Israeli settlements bordering the Gaza Strip.
Responding to attacks by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad groups, Israeli forces destroyed an underground attack tunnel and thwarted a naval blockade breach attempt, the army said earlier on Tuesday.
Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups said that "bombings will be met with bombings and blood with blood," and called the increased wave of attacks a "response to the Zionist aggression and the crimes against our people and the members of the resistance."
While Islamic Jihad spokesman claimed that a "ceasefire agreement was reached with Israel to return to calm," with the help of Egypt, Israelis denied that a deal had been reached, and continued to respond with force to the ongoing cross-border fire.
Amid the rise of hostilities, the Palestinian Authority demanded an "urgent international intervention to stop the Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip."
Meanwhile the US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley called an emergency Security Council session, which will likely address tensions on Wednesday afternoon.
"The Security Council should be outraged and respond to this latest bout of violence directed at innocent Israeli civilians, and the Palestinian leadership needs to be held accountable for what they're allowing to happen in Gaza," Haley said in a statement.
I guess when the Palestines are getting their asses shot, and blown to bits, they are considered 'targets'.