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Israel retaliates for Gaza rocket fire with air strikes; Hamas hacks Israel TV Israel retaliates for Gaza rocket fire with airstrikes; Hamas hacks Israeli TV
(about 2 hours later)
GAZA CITY -- Israel and Islamist militants in Gaza exchanged escalating threats and rocket fire over the weekend, as an Israeli retaliatory air strike hit a family home in the coastal enclave, killing two Palestinian children. GAZA CITY — Israel and Islamist militants in Gaza exchanged escalating threats and rocket fire over the weekend, as an Israeli retaliatory airstrike hit a family home in the coastal enclave, killing two Palestinian children.
Hackers associated with the Islamist militant movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, also managed to interrupt a television broadcast of the popular local version of the “Big Brother” reality show on Saturday night to warn Israelis, in Hebrew, that they should stay inside their homes and not venture out onto the streets. Hackers associated with the Islamist militant movement Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, also managed to interrupt a television broadcast of the popular local version of the “Big Brother” reality show Saturday night to warn Israelis, in Hebrew, that they should stay inside their homes and not venture out onto the streets.
The three-minute propaganda video showed images of dead bodies, called the Israelis murderers of women and children, and praised the recent wave of Palestinian knife and gun attacks -- and warned that more violence was ahead. The three-minute propaganda video showed images of dead bodies, called the Israelis murderers of women and children, praised the recent wave of Palestinian knife and gun attacks — and warned that more violence was ahead.
[Israel’s Big Brother TV show has some unwelcome guests: Hamas hackers][Israel’s Big Brother TV show has some unwelcome guests: Hamas hackers]
The escalation began Friday night when militants in the coastal enclave fired four rockets across the Gaza border fence at Israel. The projectiles landed in open fields and caused no damage, but they represented one of the largest salvos fired from Gaza since the end of the 50-day summer war in 2014. The escalation began Friday night when militants in the coastal enclave fired four rockets at Israel across the Gaza border fence. The projectiles landed in open fields and caused no damage, but they represented one of the largest salvos fired from Gaza since the end of the 50-day summer war in 2014.
None of the factions in Gaza claimed responsibility for the rocket fire but it is suspected Salafi militants were behind the attack and that they may have launched the projectiles to antagonize their rivals in Hamas. None of the factions in Gaza claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, but Salafist militants are suspected of being behind the attack, possibly launching the projectiles to antagonize their rivals in Hamas.
Israeli military officials say that while the rockets may not have been launched by Hamas, the group is responsible for anything fired from its territory. Israeli military officials say that although the rockets may not have been launched by Hamas, the group is responsible for anything fired from its territory.
[‘A new kind of terrorism’ in Israel][‘A new kind of terrorism’ in Israel]
Israel responded on Saturday night with missiles directed at four Hamas sites, according to the military. One of the missiles, aimed at a Hamas training field, struck a simple two-room cement home at the perimeter of the camp belonging to Salman Abu Khousa. Two of his children, Yaseen, 6, and Israa, 10, were killed. Israel responded Saturday night with missiles directed at four Hamas sites, according to the military. One missile, aimed at a Hamas training camp, struck a simple two-room cement home at the perimeter of the site that belonged to Salman Abu Khousa. Two of his children, Yaseen, 6, and Israa, 10, were killed.
“My six children were sleeping with their mother in the next room, suddenly I heard a huge boom and my wife screaming. I went to the room and found three of children injured, two badly,” said Abu Khousa, whose home is about a mile from Gaza’s border with Israel. “My six children were sleeping with their mother in the next room. Suddenly I heard a huge boom and my wife screaming. I went to the room and found three of the children injured, two badly,” said Abu Khousa, whose home is about a mile from Gaza’s border with Israel.
"Israel will not accept rocket fire of any kind from the strip at its territory. The Israel Defense Forces will respond to any such provocation. Israel holds Hamas responsible for all firing carried out from the Gaza Strip toward Israel; Hamas must prevent such firing," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday. “Israel will not accept rocket fire of any kind from the Strip at its territory,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday. “The Israel Defense Forces will respond to any such provocation. Israel holds Hamas responsible for all firing carried out from the Gaza Strip toward Israel; Hamas must prevent such firing.”
Israel's defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, said, "We will act even more harshly if these attempts continue." Israel’s defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, said, “We will act even more harshly if these attempts continue.”
An Israeli military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity following security protocols, called the death of the Palestinian children “an unfortunate human tragedy following four rockets launched at the people of southern Israel.” An Israeli military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of security protocols, called the death of the Palestinian children “an unfortunate human tragedy following four rockets launched at the people of southern Israel.”
The Hamas target was hit, the official said, but “it appears that some debris ricocheted approximately 100 meters away and fell through the prefabricated roof causing the unfortunate loss of life.” The Hamas target was hit, the official said, but “it appears that some debris ricocheted approximately 100 meters away and fell through the prefabricated roof, causing the unfortunate loss of life.”
A statement from the Hamas militia, al-Qassam Brigades, posted on their website, warned, “the blood of our children will not flow in vain.” A statement from the Hamas militia, Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, posted on its website, warned that “the blood of our children will not flow in vain.”
“The occupation must know that patience of al-Qassam Brigades and the resistance factions has limits,” the group said. “The occupation must know that patience of al-Qassam Brigades and the resistance factions has its limits,” the group said.
[War Punishes Gaza] [War punishes Gaza]
The militia called the dead children martyrs and posted photos of their bodies being prepared for burial on Saturday. The militia referred to the dead children as martyrs and posted photos of their bodies being prepared for burial Saturday.
The father of the children said, “I blame the Israelis for this, nobody talked to me from Israeli side, I haven’t received an apology from anyone, and even if they did, what can an apology do for me? Will it bring my kids back?” “I blame the Israelis for this,” the children’s father said. “Nobody talked to me from the Israeli side. I haven’t received an apology from anyone, and even if they did, what can an apology do for me? Will it bring my kids back?”
Khousa said he lost his home during the 2014 summer war between Israel and Hamas and the family had been living in makeshift housing. Abu Khousa said that he lost his home during the 2014 summer war between Israel and Hamas and that the family had been living in makeshift housing.
The Hamas military training site, basically an open field, was approximately 40 yards from Khousa’s home. The Hamas military training site, basically an open field, was approximately 40 yards from Khousa’s home.
Israeli military officials say that Hamas does not want to fight another war with Israel now; instead the group is busy rearming itself, manufacturing rockets and digging tunnels both along the Egyptian and Israel border, they say. Israeli military officials say Hamas does not want to fight another war with Israel now; instead, they say, the group is busy rearming itself, manufacturing rockets and digging tunnels along the Egyptian and Israeli borders.
A dozen diggers and engineers have been killed in Hamas tunnels that have collapsed in recent months.A dozen diggers and engineers have been killed in Hamas tunnels that have collapsed in recent months.
Booth reported from Jerusalem.Booth reported from Jerusalem.