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ISRAEL-PALESTINIANS LEAD
Israel strikes Hamas targets after Gaza rocket fire
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, Dec 14, 2017 (BSS/AFP) – Israel
carried out a series of air strikes against Islamist group Hamas in Gaza
early on Thursday, the army said, hours after rockets were fired from the
Palestinian enclave.
In a statement, the Israeli army said it had targeted three Hamas military
facilities in different parts of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
“The military facilities were used as training and weapons storage
compounds,” the army said.
“This was in response to the projectiles fired at Israeli territory from
the Gaza Strip.”
A Palestinian security source said there were more than 10 strikes on the
targets, which included a Hamas naval facility and a military base near the
Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza.
The source said there had been significant damage to the targets, as well
as lesser damage to nearby houses, where some residents suffered minor
injuries.
There was no immediate confirmation of the injuries from the health
ministry in Gaza.
The strikes came hours after Israel’s air defence system intercepted two
rockets fired from Gaza.
Such rockets are generally fired by fringe Islamist groups but Israel holds
Gaza’s Hamas rulers responsible for any fire from the territory.
The army also announced it would close the border crossings between Gaza
and Israel — Kerem Shalom for goods and Erez for people — from Thursday
“due to the security events and in accordance with security assessments”.
A military spokeswoman could not say whether the closure would be for one
day or more.
There has been an uptick in violence from Gaza since US President Donald
Trump announced he would recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last week.
Four Gazans have been killed, two in clashes along the border and two Hamas
militants in an Israeli air strike in retaliation for rocket fire.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1355 hrs