Israel launches another round of airstrikes against Gaza, in response to one rocket strike (which Hamas denies firing)

RT
Mon, 25 Mar 2019 15:49 UTC

© Reuters/Ahmed Zakot

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike in Gaza

The Israeli military has begun striking the Gaza strip, hours after a Palestinian rocket hit a house near Tel Aviv.

Palestinian militant group Hamas is accused of firing a rocket into Israel from Gaza early on Monday. The rocket hit a family home in Moshav Mishmeret, near the capital of Tel Aviv, injuring seven people. The Israel Defense Forces responded by immediately calling up "thousands" of reserves and mobilizing two armor and infantry brigades.

The attack prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut his trip to the US short. Returning to Israel on Monday, Netanyahu vowed to respond "forcefully." US President Donald Trump lent his support to the Israeli strikes, recognizing Israel's "right to defend itself."

There are no casualty or damage reports yet from the latest airstrikes. A Hamas naval position west of Gaza City and a training camp in northern Gaza were reportedly among the targets. Unconfirmed reports suggest that an insurance company's building in Gaza City has also been struck.

Israel has closed the Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossing points and opened bomb shelters near the strip in preparation for a Palestinian response.

The rocket fire and subsequent retaliation comes less than two weeks after the IDF and Hamas exchanged rocket fire. Israel said it pounded around 100 Hamas targets in Gaza after Hamas launched two rockets, apparently in error.

Amidst the chaos in Gaza, Trump and Netanyahu held a joint conference in Washington, announcing Trump's signing of a declaration recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, seized from Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967.

Comment: More on this report from RT, 3/25/2019: Israeli army to send added forces to Gaza in retaliation for rocket fire.

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) is sending two additional brigades and thousands of army reserves to the Gaza border after a rocket was fired into Israel on Monday, prompting fears of a major military incursion. It said the rocket was fired from Rafa in southern Gaza.

Hamas or Islamic Jihad have not claimed responsibility for the attack, but Hamas reportedly told Egypt that it was fired in error and they are investigating. Egypt is reportedly attempting to negotiate a ceasefire.

Military spokesperson Major Mika Lifshitz said two armor and infantry brigades were being mobilized and that reserves would also be drafted.

Haaretz reports that "thousands" of reserves will be called up. Hamas leaders have gone underground in anticipation of an attack. The IDF said it holds Hamas "responsible for everything that happens in the Gaza Strip and from it."

Israeli military officials are meeting with the local government in the Israeli areas around Gaza communities to prepare them for expected retaliatory strikes, the Times of Israel reports.

Israel has also closed the Erez and Kerem Shalom border crossings and placed additional restrictions on fishing.

The buildup of troops suggests Gaza could face a military incursion in the lead up to Israel's election on April 9. Netanyahu has been accused of not being hard enough on Hamas by his political opponents.

Hamas says: "It wasn't us."

The Israelis didn't fire a rocket against themselves, surely?...