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Israeli Airstrike Kills at Least 2 in Gaza Israeli Airstrike Kills 2 in Gaza
(about 5 hours later)
GAZA — The Israeli military killed two Palestinians in an airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip early on Wednesday, one of them a militant who Israel said was responsible for recent rocket attacks against southern Israel. GAZA — The Israeli military killed two Palestinians in an airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip early on Wednesday, one of them a militant who Israel said had been responsible for recent rocket attacks against southern Israel.
The armed wing of Islamic Jihad said in a statement that the militant, Ahmed Zaanin, 21, was one of its members and the militant group vowed to retaliate for his death. Mr. Zaanin’s cousin, Mohammed Zaanin, was also killed in the missile strike on a white pickup truck parked outside their home in the town of Beit Hanoun, a relative, Tareq Zaanin, said by telephone. The armed wing of Islamic Jihad said in a statement that the militant, Ahmed Zaanin, 21, had been one of its members and the militant group vowed to retaliate for his death. Mr. Zaanin’s cousin, Mohammed Zaanin, was also killed in the missile strike on a white pickup truck parked outside their home in the town of Beit Hanoun, a relative, Tareq Zaanin, said by telephone.
It was the second time in recent days that Israel carried out an attack against a specific individual from the air, reviving a practice that had all but stopped since a Gaza cease-fire came into effect 14 months ago, ending eight days of fierce cross-border fighting. On Sunday, the Israeli military struck and wounded a man it said was an Islamic Jihad operative also responsible for recent rocket fire against southern Israel. A bystander, a boy of 12, was also hurt, according to Health Ministry officials in Gaza. It was the second time in recent days that Israel carried out an attack against a specific individual from the air, reviving a practice that had all but stopped since a Gaza cease-fire came into effect 14 months ago and ended eight days of fierce cross-border fighting. On Sunday, the Israeli military struck and wounded a man it said was an Islamic Jihad operative also responsible for recent rocket fire against southern Israel. A bystander, a boy of 12, was hurt, according to Health Ministry officials in Gaza.
The fragile cease-fire has frayed on both sides in recent weeks. Israeli and Palestinian analysts said that Hamas, the Islamic group that controls Gaza, weakened by an Egyptian military crackdown on its smuggling tunnels, among other things, has been turning a blind eye to smaller groups firing rockets against Israel. The fragile cease-fire has frayed on both sides in recent weeks. Israeli and Palestinian analysts said that Hamas, the Islamic group that controls Gaza, weakened by an Egyptian military crackdown on its smuggling tunnels, among other things, had been turning a blind eye to smaller groups firing rockets against Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that Israel will take preventive action and retaliate swiftly and strongly against those who seek to harm it.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned that Israel will take preventive action and retaliate swiftly and strongly against those who seek to harm it.
“We thwart terror attacks if we identify them while they are still being planned and we respond decisively against those who harm us,” Mr. Netanyahu said at a news conference Tuesday with the visiting prime minister of Canada, hours before the latest attack. “If Hamas and the terror organizations have forgotten this message, they will learn it harshly very soon.”“We thwart terror attacks if we identify them while they are still being planned and we respond decisively against those who harm us,” Mr. Netanyahu said at a news conference Tuesday with the visiting prime minister of Canada, hours before the latest attack. “If Hamas and the terror organizations have forgotten this message, they will learn it harshly very soon.”
The Israeli military said in a statement that Mr. Zaanin was behind the launching of rockets during the funeral of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who was buried on Jan. 13 in the presence of Israeli leaders and foreign dignitaries at his ranch in southern Israel, not far from the border with Gaza. The rockets hit open ground and did not cause casualties. The Israeli military said in a statement that Mr. Zaanin had been behind the launching of rockets during the funeral of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who was buried on Jan. 13 in the presence of Israeli leaders and foreign dignitaries at his ranch in southern Israel, not far from the border with Gaza. The rockets hit open ground and did not cause casualties.
The military added that Mr. Zaanin was planning further attacks in the coming days and that the air force acted “in order to eliminate an imminent threat to the lives of Israeli civilians.” The military added that Mr. Zaanin had been planning further attacks in the coming days and that the air force acted “in order to eliminate an imminent threat to the lives of Israeli civilians.”
On Tuesday, Islam Shahwan, a spokesman for Hamas’s Interior Ministry, said his ministry was taking measures to maintain the cease-fire, which was agreed upon by all factions. He declined to elaborate on the measures. News reports said that Hamas had deployed forces near the border with Israel.On Tuesday, Islam Shahwan, a spokesman for Hamas’s Interior Ministry, said his ministry was taking measures to maintain the cease-fire, which was agreed upon by all factions. He declined to elaborate on the measures. News reports said that Hamas had deployed forces near the border with Israel.