Israel warned on Wednesday that it would intensify its strikes in the Gaza Strip if Hamas continued to fire rockets.
Meanwhile, Palestinian rescue workers reported dead after Israeli attacks on the first day of the new year. This was reported by the AFP agency, writes TASR.
Over the past week, Palestinian militants have repeatedly attacked Israel with rockets, especially from northern Gaza, where the Israeli army is conducting a major offensive. The rockets caused only minor damage and were far fewer than in the early stages of the war, AFP said.
“I want to send a clear message from here to the terrorist leaders in Gaza: if Hamas does not soon allow the release of the Israeli hostages from Gaza … and continues to shell Israeli communities, it will be subjected to a blow of an intensity not seen in Gaza for a long time,” declared Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Kac after visiting the town of Netivot, which was targeted by one of the rocket attacks from nearby Gaza.
A Gaza civil defense spokesman earlier told AFP that 15 people were killed and more than 20 wounded in an Israeli attack on the town of Jabalia shortly after midnight local time. According to the spokesman, the attack hit a house in which people displaced from homes in other parts of the Palestinian enclave lived.
The Israeli army said it neutralized several Hamas militants in the city of Jabalia. Since October 6 of last year, the army has been conducting a major ground and air operation in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, mainly targeting this city and the neighboring refugee camp. According to her, the goal is to prevent militants from regrouping in the area.
Ten more people were killed in two more Israeli attacks in Gaza on Wednesday, rescue workers said.
