Israel strikes Hamas compound in response to rocket fire

An Israeli airstrike hit a Hamas military compound in southern Gaza in response to a rocket fired hours earlier at southern Israel.

The attack early on Tuesday morning reportedly caused damage to the facility.

The attack came hours after a rocket launched from Gaza landed in an open field in southern Israel. The Code Red alert siren did not go off since it was determined that the rocket was heading to an unpopulated area. A second rocket fired Monday evening reportedly landed inside of Gaza.

The Israel Defence Forces said in announcing the Gaza strike Tuesday that, despite the fact that a small terrorist group actually launched the rocket, “The IDF holds Hamas accountable for events in Gaza.”

Dozens of rockets and mortars have been fired from Gaza on southern Israel since U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Dec. 6 that the United States would recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel has struck at least 40 Hamas targets in Gaza in recent weeks, in response to criticism from Labour Party head Avi Gabbay that Netanyahu has failed to stop the rocket fire and for not taking stronger action against Gaza.

Also on Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot criticised politicians who have said that the IDF is not taking strong enough action against Hamas in the face of the rocket attacks from Gaza.

“These statements to respond with maximal force to rocket fire are irresponsible. It is not the right thing to do,” Eisenkot said during a speech at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Centre.