Advertisement

Israel launches airstrike on Hamas target in Gaza

By Danielle Haynes
An Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter jet takes off during an air show at the graduation ceremony of Israeli Air Force pilots at the Hatzerim Base in the Negev Desert, near Beersheva, Israel, Dec. 26, 2013. The Israeli air force launched an airstrike on Gaza in response to rocket fire. File photo by Debbie Hill/UPI
An Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter jet takes off during an air show at the graduation ceremony of Israeli Air Force pilots at the Hatzerim Base in the Negev Desert, near Beersheva, Israel, Dec. 26, 2013. The Israeli air force launched an airstrike on Gaza in response to rocket fire. File photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

GAZA, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Israel launched an airstrike on a Hamas target Friday in retaliation to rocket fire from Gaza, the Israeli military said.

No injuries reported from either attack, officials from Israel Defense Forces said.

Advertisement

The rocket from Gaza struck in open territory near the Eshkol Regional Council early Friday afternoon. Residents reported hearing blasts shortly after.

Two airstrikes were launched in response by the Israel air force with assistance from the Israel navy.

"The IDF struck terror infrastructure belonging to the terrorist organization Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip. A direct hit was identified," an IDF spokesperson said in a statement.

"The IDF will not allow any attempts to hurt the safety of Israel's civilians. The Hamas terrorist organization is the address, and they bear responsibility," the statement said.

This is the first time the Israeli military has launched an attack on Gaza since a truce was established between Israel and Palestinians in August. It's the third time rocket fire from Gaza has reached Israel in the same span of time.

Advertisement

The incident came just two days after a European Union court reversed Hamas' status as a terror organization.

"If anyone doubted this [Hamas' status as a terror group] then they received the answer now with the [rocket] fire," former Israeli deputy defense minister Danny Danon said.

Latest Headlines