23 killed in Gaza, Israel vows to keep targeting militants

Gaza City, November 13

Israeli air strikes killed 13 more Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza today as rocket fire towards Israel resumed after a brief overnight lull, raising the death toll in the strip to 23 Palestinians in the heaviest round of fighting in months.

The military said more than 250 rockets had been fired at Israeli communities since the violence erupted following an Israeli air strike that killed a senior Islamic Jihad commander, accused of being the mastermind of recent attacks. Israel stepped up its battle against Iran and its proxies across the region.

The latest fighting brought life in much of Israel to a standstill. Schools remained closed in Israeli communities near the Gaza border and restrictions on public gatherings continued as rockets rained down.

Those attacks came after the early morning strike on Tuesday killed Bahaa Abu el-Atta and his wife as they were sleeping. Rocket fire from Gaza reached as far north as Tel Aviv, and two people were wounded by shrapnel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a special Cabinet meeting that Israel had no interest in sparking a wider confrontation but warned the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad that Israel would keep pounding them until the rockets stop.

“They know we will continue to strike them without mercy,” Netanyahu said. “They have one choice: either stop these attacks or absorb more and more blows.”

Hamas rulers have yet to enter the fray — a possible sign the current violence could be brief. Although larger and more powerful than Islamic Jihad, Hamas is also more pragmatic. With Gaza’s economy in tatters, it appears to have little desire for more fighting with Israel.

Egypt, which frequently mediates between Israel and Gaza militants, has been working to de-escalate tensions, according to Cairo officials.

The Islamic Jihad rejected the efforts, with spokesman Musab al-Berim saying the group’s priority is to “respond to the crime and confront the Israeli aggression.”

Netanyahu said, “We showed that we can strike terrorists with minimum damage to innocents. We will harm those who harm us.” — AFP/Reuters