AP, JERUSALEM :
An Israeli aircraft struck a target in the northern Gaza Strip Wednesday, killing one person and wounding three others, in the first deadly violence between the sides since a new Palestinian government took office last week.
The late-night airstrike came hours after Palestinian militants fired a rocket into southern Israel, the first such attack since President Mahmoud Abbas formed the new government and took charge, at least formally, of Gaza. Israel has warned it would hold the Western-backed Abbas responsible for any attacks out of the territory, even though the rival Hamas militant group maintains de facto control.
Witnesses said the airstrike targeted a man on a motorcycle and also struck a nearby car. Palestinian medical officials said two of the wounded were in critical condition. They did not immediately identify the casualties.
But in a statement, the Israeli military identified the target as a 33-year-old militant linked to “global jihad,” a term it uses to describe groups that are affiliated or inspired by al-Qaida. It said the man had participated in “many” rocket attacks while also working as a Hamas policeman, and described the airstrike as pre-emptive.
“Our policy is clear. Kill those who rise up to kill us,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
He said he wanted to “remind” the international community that Abbas had pledged the new government would uphold previous agreements with Israel. “This means that he is responsible for dismantling Hamas and other terror groups” in Gaza, he said.
An Israeli aircraft struck a target in the northern Gaza Strip Wednesday, killing one person and wounding three others, in the first deadly violence between the sides since a new Palestinian government took office last week.
The late-night airstrike came hours after Palestinian militants fired a rocket into southern Israel, the first such attack since President Mahmoud Abbas formed the new government and took charge, at least formally, of Gaza. Israel has warned it would hold the Western-backed Abbas responsible for any attacks out of the territory, even though the rival Hamas militant group maintains de facto control.
Witnesses said the airstrike targeted a man on a motorcycle and also struck a nearby car. Palestinian medical officials said two of the wounded were in critical condition. They did not immediately identify the casualties.
But in a statement, the Israeli military identified the target as a 33-year-old militant linked to “global jihad,” a term it uses to describe groups that are affiliated or inspired by al-Qaida. It said the man had participated in “many” rocket attacks while also working as a Hamas policeman, and described the airstrike as pre-emptive.
“Our policy is clear. Kill those who rise up to kill us,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
He said he wanted to “remind” the international community that Abbas had pledged the new government would uphold previous agreements with Israel. “This means that he is responsible for dismantling Hamas and other terror groups” in Gaza, he said.
