The IDF’s retaliatory attack on Hamas was a “justified Israeli response to a crude attack on Israel’s sovereign territory,” a regional spokesperson stated.

Late Friday night, at about 10:30, sirens sounded in the southern city of Sderot and the Sha’ar HaNegev region after terrorists launched four rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip. The rockets landed in open areas, and there were no injuries.

No terror organization claimed responsibility. Israel places full responsibility on attacks from Gaza on Hamas, which rules the Strip.

In response to Friday night’s rocket fire, the Israeli Air Force targeted four Hamas sites in northern Gaza.

Hamas claims that two children were killed in the retaliatory strikes.

Alon Schuster, head of the Sh’aar HaNegev regional council, sent condolences to the Gaza family, but blamed terrorists in Gaza for sparking the escalation, Times of Israel reported. “I want to send my condolences to the family,” Shuster said, whose children “were killed as a result of a justified Israeli response to a crude attack on us and on Israel’s sovereign territory.”

Hamas Hacks Israeli TV

Earlier Friday evening, according to the Times report, Hamas hacked into Israeli TV’s Channel 2, telling viewers that “terror will never end.” The rockets came shortly afterwards.

There have been seven rockets fired at Israel from the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the year, the IDF spokesperson’s unit said.

“Today’s rocket attack is just one example of extremist incessant efforts to threaten the security and safety of the people of southern Israel. The IDF will continue to act to protect against those who threaten innocent lives and Israel’s sovereignty,” IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner stated.

By: Terri Nir, United with Israel