Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened war with militants in the Gaza Strip as rocket sirens blared across southern Israel.
The rocket attacks by Palestinian militants began Sunday after a video began to circulate on social media that showed an Israeli army bulldozer dragging the body of a Palestinian man who Israel said was part of a “terror squad.” Israel said two men were attempting to plant an improvised explosive device close to a border fence with Israel when 27-year-old Mohammed al Naim was shot and killed.
About 30 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at cities in southern Israel on Sunday, and 50 more were fired on Monday. The Israeli military retaliated and fired on targets in the Gaza city of Khan Younis. Authorities said a Palestinian Islamic Jihad base and training center was hit in addition to a number of other Islamic Jihad targets.
The Israeli Defense Forces said about 90% of the rockets fired were intercepted by its Iron Dome defense system. There were no reports of injuries on the Israeli side, while the Palestinian Health Industry reported four injured in Gaza.
Israel also hit Islamic Jihad sites in Syria on Monday, which Palestinian Islamic Jihad said resulted in at least two deaths, according to the Washington Post.
Netanyahu warned on Monday that his government was prepared for “a broad campaign,” although he noted he did not hope for a larger conflict.
“I am not hurrying into war. I know the price that our soldiers and the families of the fallen pay,” Netanyahu said. “Woe to Hamas and Islamic Jihad when that day comes! It’s their choice.”
“We will do what it takes to bring back total security for the residents of the south,” he added.
The most recent flareup in hostilities is the largest since November when the commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing, Baha Abu al Ata, was killed. Militants retaliated by firing hundreds of rockets into southern Israel.
The increase in violence comes a week after Netanyahu said terrorists in the Gaza Strip are in for a “big surprise” unless they reduce violence in the region.
