Smoke and flame are seen during an Israeli air strike in Gaza. (photo credit: MOHAMMED SALEM/ REUTERS)
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The Israeli Air Force began striking targets in Gaza early Friday morning around 1:30 a.m. in retaliation for two rockets that had been fired at Tel Aviv Thursday night, the IDF spokesperson said. This was the first such attack since a 2014 war.
The army confirmed that it was Hamas that launched the rockets at the center of the country.
“Hamas carried out the rocket fire against Tel Aviv yesterday evening,” Lieutenant-Colonel Avichay Adraee said.
Hamas denied involvement, saying the launches took place as its leaders met Egyptian delegates about efforts to secure a long-term ceasefire with Israel.
A red alert was heard in the Eshkol Regional Council at around the same time. A second red alert was activated in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council and Sdot Negev Regional Council soon after. The Iron Dome defense system intercepted one of the rockets.
There was no immediate word of casualties in the air strikes that hit six buildings used by the dominant Islamist group’s security forces, and which had been evacuated as a precaution.
Witnesses said powerful explosions from the air strikes rocked buildings in Gaza and lit the skies over targeted sites.
The Israeli military said it was targeting “terror sites” in Gaza.
Late Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting at the Kiriya in Tel Aviv to discuss Israel’s response. Among those participating were Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen Aviv Kochavi, National Security Council head Meir Ben-Shabbat, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) head Nadav Argaman, and other senior security establishment officials.
On Thursday night, sirens howled in Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial capital, set off by what the military said were two incoming, longer-range rockets from Gaza.
That salvo caused no casualties or damage, missing built-up areas. But it rattled Israeli nerves ahead of an April 9 election in which Netanyahu is seeking a fifth term on the strength of his national security credentials.
According to the IDF, although the Iron Dome missile defense system was activated, but there were no interceptions as both rockets fell in open territory.
Several Israelis were treated for shock.
As the retaliation began, politicians and supporters from around the world reacted in support of Israel.
US Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) slammed the Hamas terrorist group, for example, saying it is responsible for “unceasing attacks on Israeli civilians launched from the Gaza Strip.
“Our Israeli allies have an absolute right to self-defense, “ he said. “The United States should do whatever possible to bolster that defense.”
US special envoy Jason Greenblatt likewise blasted Hamas in a series of tweets.
“More attempted rockets from Gaza-reports say rockets fell short-inside Gaza,” he wrote. “Presumably all responsible countries/international orgs will condemn attacks/confirm Israel’s right to defend. Anything else is tone deaf – to Israelis, Palestinians & to peace. Time to wake up folks!”
He followed that tweet with another one, noting that “Hamas, PIJ and PFLP are all running for the hills (tunnels) denying responsibility for the rockets tonight. Separately, Hamas violently put down anti-Hamas demonstrations today in Gaza with live bullets, beatings and detentions. Hamas causes much suffering in Gaza!,” Greenblatt wrote.
The European Union’s Ambassador to Israel, Emanuele Giaufret, condemned the Hamas rocket attack on Tel Aviv.
“Following developments with grave concern,” he wrote on Twitter, adding that “targeting civilian areas [is] unacceptable.”
Reuters contributed to this story.
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