Escalation: Terrorists Fire Rockets at Israel, IAF Bombs Hamas Targets

Jerusalem, 16 August, 2020 (TPS) -- Israel’s south saw a significant escalation in the violence emanating from the Gaza Strip over the weekend as terrorist organizations and the IDF exchanged blows throughout the night.

Throughout Saturday, Gaza-based terrorists launched balloons tied to explosive charges and flammable materials into Israel, causing fires in areas in the vicinity of the Strip.

In response, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) bombed Hamas military targets, including a military compound and underground infrastructure.

Later in the evening, terrorists launched two rockets at the city of Sderot. Both rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system. Remnants of one of the interceptors caused damage to a home.

MDA paramedics treated a 58-year-old man who was slightly injured by glass fragments, and two women who were injured while running for shelter. Two victims suffering from anxiety were treated on the spot and did not need to be evacuated.

Responding again, the IAF launched another round of attacks on Hamas targets, hitting a rocket storage depot.

“The IDF takes all terrorist activity against Israeli territory very seriously and will continue to act as much as necessary against attempts to harm the citizens of the State of Israel and its sovereignty,” the military stated after the strikes.

“The Hamas terror organization bears responsibility for what is happening in and out of the Gaza Strip, and will bear the consequences of terrorist acts against Israeli citizens,” it added.

Hamas stated Saturday that “the unabated bombing of the Gaza Strip and targeting Palestinian citizens, including children and women, are a serious escalation and a red line that the Israeli occupation should be responsible for all of their consequences and repercussions.”

“The Palestinian resistance is prepared to handle all scenarios to repulse the Israeli aggression, break the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip, and protect the Palestinian interests,” the terror organization threatened.

The IDF’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced Sunday morning that all fishing off Gaza’s coast was banned. This announcement was made after the fishing zone was reduced last week.

The Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, which was shut down last week, remained closed Sunday, and only humanitarian aid was allowed into the Strip from Israel.

“Israel will respond firmly and rigidly to all terrorist acts that harm the citizens of the State of Israel and its sovereignty and will continue to act as necessary against these attempts,” COGAT stated.