Report: IDF kills PRC commander

Palestinian sources report senior commander of Popular Resistance Committees' military wing hit by missile while on motorcycle, IDF says targeting terror cells in Strip after 15 rockets hit Israel throughout Friday

Elior Levy|Published: 08.19.11 , 20:07

Palestinian sources in Gaza reported Friday that IDF aircraft fired a missile at a senior commander of the Popular Resistance Committees' military wing as he was riding his motorcycle in northern Gaza.

Samad Abdul-Mati was evacuated to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Escalation of violence in south:

The IDF confirmed that the Air Force carried out strikes against three terror cells throughout Gaza, identifying direct hits in each case.

Earlier Palestinian sources reported a 22-year old gunman dead in a strike that targeted a terror cell in the Gaza City neighborhood of Zeitun. They said another gunman was injured in the same strike.

Later, sources reported an additional strike in an area near a cement factory, northeast of Gaza City. Two people were critically injured, reports said. Some unconfirmed reports say one of the injured is a 12-year old girl.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Friday while visiting wounded soldiers in Soroka Hospital that Israel would retaliate with force to Thursday's terror attacks. "This was just an initial response," he told soldiers of overnight Gaza strikes.

"We have a policy of exacting a heavy price from those who harm us and this policy is being implemented on the ground."

Since Friday morning 15 rockets have been fired at Israel from Gaza, hitting Be'er Tuvia, Eshkol, and Sdot Negev regional councils, as well as Ashdod. No injuries or damage were reported.

Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report