Israeli Army Tank Shells Hamas Target in Gaza; Palestinians Say Three Killed

Israeli Merkava tanks

Yaniv Kubovich, Jack Khoury and Noa Landau write in Haaretz, “The Israeli military said it struck a Hamas target near Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip with tank fire Sunday morning. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, three Gazans were killed in the attack. A correspondent for Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen TV said an explosion was heard in the area prior to the Israeli strike.”

“The Al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of the Islamic Jihad organization announced two of its combatants were killed in the attack. ‘We will not relent our duty towards the blood of those killed and know how we’ll react to this grevious escalation,’ their statement said. The Israeli army confirmed the attack in a statement, saying it was in response to an explosive charge being placed near the fence, which exploded while being dismantled. Israeli army reported no casualties.. ‘The charge was placed last night near the bordef fence in the southern Gaza Strip in attempt to harm forces operating in the area and was neutralized this morning by IDF troops,’ said the statement.”…

“The reports come hours after the Israeli air force attacked Hamas targets near Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip Saturday night. The IDF said the targets were struck in response to an incident earlier Saturday, in which four Palestinians from Gaza crossed the border fence into Israel and threw a firebomb before fleeing back under Israeli fire.  (more…)