The IAF responded to gunshots fired by terrorists in Gaza which hit a number of homes. Israel holds Hamas responsible.

Hamas terrorists fired at Israeli homes on the Netiv Ha’Asara kibbutz at the border with Gaza Wednesday afternoon. The bullets hit several homes and reached a living room where two children, ages six and nine, were sitting and watching TV.

The television was shattered, among other damage caused by the gunfire, but there were no injuries.

Yishai Bider, whose home was hit by the gunfire, told IDF Radio that bullets zipped over his children’s heads and that he is considering moving to a different location, further away from the Gaza Strip. “The baby was in another room with his mother, and the two other children were right nearby where the bullets hit,” he said.

In response on Thursday morning, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) attacked a Hamas training camp from where the bullets were fired. No casualties were reported.

“The IDF hold Hamas responsible for any activity in the Gaza Strip and for the keeping of the peace,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement.

In the IDF’s assessment, the gunfire was not intentional nor a result of stray fire shot while training. The Israeli army is sending a strong message to Hamas that such occurrences will not be tolerated, IDF Radio reported.

Residents Demand Stronger Response to Terror

Yair Farjoun, head of the Ashkelon Regional Council, called on the government for stronger action against Hamas.

“We can no longer accept this imminent threat on our lives. I demand that the government take immediate steps to stump out the threat on the lives of Israel’s citizens. No more patients and a prolonged state of emergency,” he stated.

There have been several terror-related incidents emanating from the Gaza Strip in the past several days, and in general, Israel’s citizens have seen a sharp increase in attacks from Gaza in recent months.

At least eight rockets were fired from the Hamas-ruled Strip since January, not including several more that fell short of their target.

On Tuesday night, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by a rocket fired by Palestinians.

The previous day, Palestinian terrorists fired a rocket at Israel hours before children arrived for their first day of school. The rocket fell within the Strip in an open space.

By: My Max Gelber, United with Israel