Hamas on high alert in wake of recent Gaza border escalation
9 rockets and mortar shells fired from the strip at Israel overnight and early morning; Iron Dome intercepts 1; Hamas vows Israel will pay a 'high bloody price' for death of 3 of its men in IDF retaliatory strikes after Palestinian snipers moderately wounded IDF officer.
Hamas's military wing said Thursday morning it has gone on high alert after tensions flared on the Gaza border once the night before.
The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades said that they are "calling the other military wings to act the same and raise the alert to the highest level."
"Israel will pay a high bloody price for its crimes against the Palestinian people," the military wing reiterated.
During the night Wednesday and early morning Thursday, nine rockets and mortar shells were launched at Israel from the Gaza Strip.
The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted one of the rockets. No one was hurt and no damage was caused in any of the launchings.
A Givati Brigade officer was moderately wounded after being shot by a sniper from the Gaza Strip during the most serious outbreak of violence between Israel and the coastal enclave since the two sides reached a ceasefire on Saturday.
According to an initial investigation, Palestinian terrorists opened fire on IDF troops from the Givati Brigade who were called to the Gaza border to disperse a “bait” riot staged by children to lure soldier within the sniper’s range.
The shooting took place in the Kissufim area just 400 meters away from where IDF soldier Staff Sgt. Aviv Levi was killed by a Hamas sniper on Friday afternoon on the Gaza border.
IDF tanks attacked seven Hamas outposts along the border in retaliation for the attack, killing three Hamas fighters and critically wounding another.
“The scope of the Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip and its deliberate attacks on fighters of the resistance reflects Israel’s intention to kill,” a Hamas statement read. “These steps clearly demonstrate that Israel’s leadership is criminal. We cannot remain silent in the face of its crimes. We will not forgo our obligation to defend the Palestinian people and to respond.”
"The blood of the dead was not spilled in vain, Israel will pay a steep price," the terror group added.
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group also responded to the incident. “The Israeli crime will not go unpunished. We are weighing all options for a response. We are still sticking to the equation of bombing will be met with bombing,” it said.
