SDEROT, Israel, May 16 (UPI) -- Israeli helicopters fired on the northern Gaza Strip Wednesday after a rocket struck the Sderot house next to the home of Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz.
Peretz, who was touring an Israeli forces exercise in northern Israel when the rocket struck Wednesday, said: "Israel has no intention to intervene with the internal clashes in (the Gaza) Strip but we are not going to tolerate that these clashes will impact the security of Israeli residents. These events will reap a suitable response," Haaretz reported.
Hamas, which took responsibility for the attack, fired at least 21 Qassam rockets at Sderot and the western Negev Tuesday, injuring 26 people, Haaretz reported.
Israeli officials told the Jerusalem Post that the Hamas missiles were aimed at luring Israel into a large-scale military response and unify warring Palestinian factions. They said the Israeli response would be minimal, such as Tuesday's missile firing at rocket launch sites, the Post reported.
In Sderot, the rocket attacks have led to evacuations, school closings and the opening of bomb shelters.
