Israel hits Gaza militant posts after rocket fire

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Israel’s military said Thursday it had hit two posts in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for rockets fired earlier in the day, as violence escalated following the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and as Hamas called for a new intifada.

Sirens sounded at various locations on a day of heightened tension following demonstrations in the coastal enclave and the occupied West Bank as Palestinians protested at US President Donald Trump's announcement on Wednesday that he recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Two rockets launched at Israel from the Gaza Strip fell short inside the Palestinian enclave earlier in the evening and a third, fired later, landed in an open area in Israel causing no casualties or damage, an army spokeswoman said.

Gaza residents said there were no casualties from the Israeli attack and that two unmanned lookout posts were hit.

A Jihadist Salafi group in Gaza called the Al-Tawheed Brigades – which does not heed the call from the enclave's dominant force, Hamas, to desist from firing rockets – claimed responsibility for the launches.

"In response to ... projectiles fired at Israel throughout the day ... an IDF tank and an IAF (Israeli Air Force) aircraft targeted two military posts in the Gaza Strip," an army statement said.

It added: "The IDF holds Hamas responsible for the hostile activity perpetrated against Israel from the Gaza Strip."

Following Trump’s announcement, Hamas called on Thursday for a new uprising against Israel.

"We should call for and we should work on launching an intifada in the face of the Zionist enemy," Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a speech in Gaza.

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Source(s): Reuters