Rockets Fired At Tel Aviv, IDF Eliminates Hamas Commander Responsible For The Murder of Knesset Members Husband

By FrumNews.com

Yerushalayim—The IDF Air Force struck a Hamas compound in Rafah, the last Hamas terrorist stronghold, on Sunday and eliminated several Hamas commanders after Hamas shot dozens of rockets toward Tel Aviv. 

On Sunday, Lag B’omer, Hamas fired dozens of rockets from the area of Rafah toward central Eretz Yisroel, for the first time in months. The rocket launcher, which was situated near two mosques in the area of Rafah, was struck by the IAF shortly after.

“IDF troops are continuing to fight in all parts of the Gaza Strip. Today, Hamas terrorists fired eight rockets from Rafah toward the Gush Dan and Sharon areas. Some were intercepted, and at some of the sites [of impact], damage occurred as a result of shrapnel from the projectiles.” IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said.

Two Hamas terrorists were eliminated in a counterstrike. One was the Hamas chief of staff in the Yehudah and Shomron and managed the entirety of Hamas’ terrorist activity in the area, transferred funds to terror targets and planned Hamas terror attacks throughout. He carried out numerous murderous terror attacks, including in 2001 and 2002, in which IDF soldiers were killed.

The other was a senior official in Hamas’ Yehudah and Shomron Headquarters, who directed shooting attacks and other terrorist activities in the area and transferred funds intended for Hamas’ terrorist activities in the Gaza Strip.

One of the Hamas commanders that were eliminated, was released in the Shalit deal, and was responsible for the murder of then 25 year-old Shalom Har-Melech (the late husband of Otzma Yehudit Knesset member Limor Son Har–Melech) during the 2003 Second Intifada near Chomesh in the Shomron, shortly before the Israeli government expelled the Yishuv residents during the 2005 disengagement.

The IDF said its aircraft “Struck a Hamas compound in Rafah in which significant Hamas terrorists were operating. The strike was carried out against legitimate targets under international law, using precise munitions and based on precise intelligence that indicated Hamas’ use of the area.” 

The IDF also said it is currently investigating the allegations that civilians were killed in the attack. “The IDF is aware of reports indicating that as a result of the strike and fire that was ignited, several “civilians” who were being used as human shields for Hamas terrorists in the area were harmed. The incident is under review.”

The IDF said of the rocket attack, “This is further evidence of the Hamas terrorist organization’s systematic exploitation of civilian areas for its terrorist activity, including rocket attacks on Israeli civilians.”