Israel strikes Hamas’ ‘underground infrastructure’ in Gaza in retaliation for rocket fire

The Israeli army announced late last night that it had hit the ‘underground infrastructure’ of the Hamas organization in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the rocket launch.

“Fighter jets and an attack helicopter have struck underground infrastructure belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the southern part of the Gaza Strip,” the statement said.

A rocket was fired at Israel about two hours after the Israeli army announced that it had located an underground tunnel which crossed the border and reached the Palestinian Territory.

The Iron Dome air defence system intercepted the rocket. Air defence sirens sounded in communities near the Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported.

The Israeli military says it has uncovered about 20 underground tunnels after its most recent war with Hamas in 2014, the third one since 2008 and 2012.

The Gaza Strip has been under suffocating Israeli blockade ruled by Hamas since 2007, an Islamist organization that Israel, the US and the EU have described as “terrorist”.

Hamas has been accused by the Israeli government in early August of escalating actions such as the execution of incendiary balloon attacks to cause fires and rocket fire against Israel, which responded by launching bombings almost daily.

After Qatar’s intervention, the two sides agreed in September to end hostilities and restore the ‘fragile’ ceasefire that was implemented a year and a half ago, following the intervention of the UN and Egypt.

Source: ANA MPA / * File archive

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