Islamic Jihad Fires 130 Rockets at Israel, Lieberman Urges Gaza Reoccupation
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Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza fired scores of rockets at southern Israel on Wednesday, causing no casualties but prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn of a tough response.
The escalation came just hours after British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived on his first official visit to the region since taking office in 2010.
It was the heaviest barrage of cross-border rocket fire since a major eight-day November 2012 confrontation between Israel and militants from Gaza's ruling Islamist movement Hamas.
The attacks were claimed by the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, which said it had fired 130 rockets at Israel in response to an air strike on Tuesday that killed three of its militants in southern Gaza.
As tens of thousands of people living in southern Israel rushed to seek shelter from the bombardment an Israeli security source told Agence France Presse militants had fired more than 60 rockets and mortar rounds at areas all over the south.
The army put the number at "more than 30 rockets," saying eight of them had struck urban areas, and another three were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti-missile system.
Police raised the level of alert in the south, saying the rockets struck along the length of Israel's border with Gaza.
One hit near a public library in the town of Sderot, and another near a petrol station.
With heavy rain hampering the Israeli air force's ability to conduct air strikes, the military said it had hit "two terror locations" in northern and southern Gaza with artillery fire, but there were no Palestinian reports of injuries.
"We have attacked two sites with artillery, with our tanks on the border with Gaza," Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner, the chief military spokesman, told journalists.
The attack began shortly after Netanyahu and Cameron addressed the parliament, and prompted a stern warning from the Israeli leader who pledged to act "with great force" against those seeking to harm Israel, a statement from his office said.
"We will continue to strike those who want to harm us; we'll act against them very forcefully," he was quoted as saying in a separate statement communicated by his spokesman Ofir Gendelman.
"This is the biggest attack on Israel since the 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense," the military said on Twitter, referring to the 2012 confrontation that claimed the lives of 177 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and six Israelis.
Later on Wednesday, Israeli warplanes hit a number of targets in the Gaza Strip in response to the rocket attack, Palestinian eyewitnesses said.
Aircraft hit bases of the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, which had claimed responsibility for the shelling.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel would have no choice but to reoccupy Gaza, from which it withdrew all troops and settlers in summer 2005.
"Following an attack like this -- a barrage of more than 50 rockets -- there is no alternative to a full reoccupation of the entire Gaza Strip," he told private Channel 2 television.
In Gaza, Islamic Jihad's armed wing the al-Quds Brigades issued a statement claiming to have fired "130 rockets" at Israel.
It said its bombardment would continue in response to Israel's "aggression" in Tuesday's air strike.
Hamas warned Israel against escalating the confrontation.
"We hold the occupation responsible, we warn of the consequences of any escalation and we reiterate that resistance is the right of the Palestinian people to defend itself," said Ihab al-Ghassin, a spokesman for the Islamist movement Hamas, which governs Gaza.
Later on Wednesday, the United States denounced the Palestinian rocket attack as "reprehensible" and "terrorist."
"The United States condemns in the strongest terms today's rocket attacks into Israel by terrorists from the Gaza Strip," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.
"It is reprehensible that dozens of rockets have been fired today alone. There is no justification for such attacks," she said.
"We call for these terrorist attacks to cease immediately. Israel, like any nation, has a right to defend itself," Psaki added.
12 March 2014, 18:08
52
Tragic casuality in the photograph. The only good thing here is that it did not happen.
12 March 2014, 20:12
88
What should they have done then in response to the Israeli shelling of 3 Palestinians yesterday? Continue to hold back? Please instead of criticizing what they did do, offer an alternative.
12 March 2014, 21:11
69
Titan, I feel no sympathy addressing you with my last comment, like I said, if you are not Israeli, then you must be an Israeli sympathizer if you are already defending Israelis perceived response. Seems you neglect to mention how many Palestinians have been killed the last few weeks.
12 March 2014, 21:23
59
anonytex, you should be focussing your energy on criticizing Israel's actions the last few weeks leading up to todays incident. To come on here and accuse IJ of giving Israel an opportunity to invade, as if Israel needs an opportunity, they kill without any regard or thought. The worst part is they preach peace in the public eye and to boot, some Lebanese buy into believing it is a reason for HA to give up its weapons.
12 March 2014, 21:39
94
City boy plz
Most patriotic citizens of this country lebanon would support israel over Islamic jihad any day of the week
12 March 2014, 21:41
56
Look at the size of that crater in the picture. This calls for WAR!!!!
12 March 2014, 22:12
82
it sure seems like a military target to me cityboy! I mean a normal street where normal people walk with their kids. I agree this does not call for war. How big you think the crater needs to be to justify a war? Then again, terrorism is something you grow up with and cherish.
12 March 2014, 22:57
37
yes of course, normal people imported from around the world that simply came to indulge in the looting of some ones land all in the name of receiving a few dollars and pretending that they are some sort of race, forgetting that they are polish, Russian, ukraining etc. etc.
12 March 2014, 22:17
102
HAMAS/Fatah in Gaza should go and kill the responsible cowards
12 March 2014, 22:29
81
@ Southern , yes I do want the pals to leave Lebanon ASAP and same with Syrians
12 March 2014, 22:58
37
please tell me you were just being sarcastic about the noble jihadist coming to support the oppressed Palestinians.
12 March 2014, 23:41
00
Do u really think all of u that these Israelis care if they were hit with a couple of bombs ??? For them,its a piece of bread,for a couple of reason : first this is the best training for their Airforce and second from time to time they need these bombs launched from Gaza for international purposes ,and third Israel cannot survive without hammas ,jihad,hizballa,think smart my fellow lebanese,think with a jewish head !!!!! Allah yinajjina mnil israily .......mabta3rif lo rass mnil assas.....
13 March 2014, 00:03
13
It's a double edged sword and the point I'm making is you can't argue for either choice (between sitting back or firing back). I don't think anyone can criticize either option. But if they decide to fight back, then how can we not applaud them for their efforts. Don't forget a similar situation happened here in Lebanon during the occupation. Also, supposedly heZb did respond with a smaller salvage of rockets on to the golan because they know to continue to hold back means you're telling Israel they can do whatever and you won't do anything at all.
13 March 2014, 00:06
13
We all know if that if they really do attempt to occupy gaza, the fight will become a little less harder for the militants in gaza. Instead of fighting against airplanes and tanks located miles away, they'll be stationed right around the corner and in IJs backyard. I don't think the Israelis are foolish enough to attempt another within-border occupation (they already are occupying gaza but from the outside)
13 March 2014, 00:07
13
I am in no way insinuating that IJ would win. I just think it would be too costly for Israel and they know this.
13 March 2014, 00:08
23
I have family there too. I wouldn't want them to get involved in the conflict in gaza. But i cringe every time heZb holds back after a kidnapping or bombing here in Lebanon. Every time a shepherd goes missing along the southern border, I ask where the heck is heZb and/or the army?
13 March 2014, 00:10
24
I think preoccupied would have been better to use instead of massacre. And to be honest, the fight in qalamoun is an extension of the fight against Israel.
13 March 2014, 01:00
24
130 rockets fired and no damages ? Seriously cut a deal and stop this humiliation.
13 March 2014, 01:31
02
It's not a matter of IJ not caring for the civilian population in Gaza. Do not forget that members of IJ are Gazan residents themselves. The choice is to sit back and in while doing so, sending Israel a message that Israel can do whatever it wants and no retaliation will come of it, or it can respond heavily with a brute message. The issue of Israel starting a conflict in Gaza or anywhere for that matter, has nothing to do with retaliation to "rocket fire". When Israel decides to "retaliate", there is already a decision in place to ignite a war with or without the excuse. Do you remember Gaza 08/09? Israel and Hamas had a ceasefire; Israel kills Gazan militants in a "necessary operation" (breaking the ceasefire); Hamas continuously fires rockets into Israel for weeks on end as retaliation (also because the border was not opened as agreed in the terms of the ceasefire); Israel launches a full scale massacre in Gaza.
13 March 2014, 01:33
11
It's a sad cycle that might not end until the day (possibly just a dream) that there no longer is a state we call Israel. But please, do not criticize those that choose to fight back. Sometimes it's better to hold back, but only (in my opinion), when you are saving up for the day you decide to give them everything you have at once.
13 March 2014, 01:35
01
Reading my comment, I realized my point wasn't made clear. If they waited to shoot at border patrol, it would mean the same thing. If Israel wants war, a border patrol incident is the same as rocket firing. It does not wait for "good" excuses. It creates them.
13 March 2014, 01:49
00
The Palestinians in Gaza live in the world's biggest prison surrounded by borders that are able to catch the movement of the smallest insects across its borders, let alone people. Their only method of retaliation is through firing rockets that they have to sneak in.
13 March 2014, 01:52
00
Listen, our discussion is not going to get anywhere. I respect your opinion but I respect their choice more. The Palestinians knew exactly what they were voting for when they elected Hamas as their leaders in the last election.
13 March 2014, 02:04
01
If the people decide to include religion in their leadership, it is their right to vote it in as long as they have the option to vote out of it in the next election.
And honestly, if we had an election today that was based on a secular system, I think the largest sect would win every single post simply because of the way people still think (not saying its good or bad, just stating it like it is).
13 March 2014, 02:05
01
March 14 stand in solidarity with... well... umm... duh... the Israelis, of course, despite their one-act play/visit to Gaza. takbir
13 March 2014, 02:05
00
I responded to this but it was directed towards texas. Please see above.
13 March 2014, 03:03
11
Iran prolonging chaos in the Middle East. Peace in Middle East does not benefit Iran.
