BICOM

The Israel Air Force this morning carried out raids on two smuggling tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip, and a tunnel used for terrorist activity in northern Gaza, according to a statement issued this morning by the IDF Spokesmans’ Office. The operation was carried out in response to rocket fire from Gaza on Negev communities on Tuesday night. Two Qassam rockets were fired, causing damage to a house. The statement noted that Israel considers the Hamas rulers of Gaza responsible for all rocket fire and attacks emanating from the Strip.

The IAF actions this morning are the latest stage in an on-going minor escalation of tension between Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza that has taken place over the last week. This began with the firing on Saturday of three Qassam rockets from Gaza towards Hof Ashkelon. The rockets landed in open areas and there were no injuries.

In a separate incident, a Palestinian suspect was killed on Wednesday whilst fleeing arrest in an IDF raid on a mosque in the West Bank town of Nablus. According to reports, a bomb was thrown at the troops during the course of the raid, in which a number of suspects were arrested. The man, 22-year-old Ibrahim Sarhan, died after being shot in the legs by IDF troops. An IDF Military Police investigation to check the conduct of the soldiers has automatically been opened, under new Israeli military procedures recently introduced, which mandate an inquiry when an unarmed suspect is killed.