Gaza Terrorists Fire 16 Rockets at Israel; IDF Hits Hamas Targets

One of the rockets hit a factory in the Sderot industrial area, causing damage.

By JNS

Sirens went off in Israel on Tuesday night—the night before Passover—as terrorists launched a total of 16 rockets from the Gaza Strip towards Israel.

Ten rockets were launched overnight and six in two separate barrages in the early morning hours on Wednesday.

One of the rockets hit a factory in the Sderot industrial area, causing damage. No casualties were reported. Seven rockets fell in open areas while eight more were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system.

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VIDEO Israel’s Iron Dome intercepts rockets launched tonight by terrorists from Gaza.

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Israel’s security establishment estimates that Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) is responsible for the attack. Since the beginning of the year, about 60 rockets have been launched from Gaza towards Israel.

In response to the attack, the IDF struck a weapon manufacturing site and an additional weapon manufacturing and storage site belonging to the terror group Hamas in the center of the Gaza Strip, the IDF reported.

“The IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for all terror activity emanating from the Gaza Strip and it will face the consequences of the security violations against Israel,” the army said in a statement.

The attacks came as many critics of Israel—notably, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.)—posted video of Israeli police clearing people out of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City and accusing police of targeting Muslim worshippers during Ramadan.

“This is the violent apartheid government of Israel. This is horrific,” tweeted Tlaib, who has a history of antisemitic and anti-Israel statements.

Aviva Klompas, former head speechwriter for the Israeli mission to the United Nations, responded to Tlaib’s charges.

“Once again the congresswoman vilifies Israel and offers no context. Armed Palestinians barricaded themselves in the mosque and threatened violence. The police spent hours trying to convince them to exit peacefully, but they refused,” Klompas tweeted.

“If armed rioters barricaded themselves in the Vatican or the Great Mosque of Mecca, we’d expect the police to similarly restore peace,” she added.