World War 3: Netanyahu warns Islamic Jihadi militants to 'stop' or face 'more blows'
ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is demanding Islamic Jihadi militants in Gaza stop its rockets attacks or else "absorb more and more blows". His warnings come amid a dramatic escalation of violence which raged for a second day and which has reportedly already claimed the lives of at least 20 people, including a young Palestinian boy.
Israel defence system intercepts rockets fired from Gaza
The Israeli prime minister said at a cabinet meeting: "They have one choice: to stop these attacks or absorb more and more blows. Their choice." He warned "this could take time" and said Israel would respond to attacks "without mercy."
"Israel is not interested in escalation but will do everything necessary to defend ourselves.
“They understand we will continue hitting them with no mercy.
"We are determined to fight and protect ourselves.”
The exchange of fire between Israel and Palestinian militants began on Tuesday morning with an Israeli targeted strike killing an Islamic Jihad commander inside the Gaza Strip in a rare targeted attack.
Israeli officials described the commander, Baha Abu al-Ata, as a “ticking bomb” who was responsible for rocket fire as well as drone and sniper attacks and who was planning more violence.
The Israeli government said the killing of al-Ata was recommended by Israel’s military and intelligence chiefs, and was approved by Mr Netanyahu.
The assassination prompted a barrage of retaliatory rockets from Palestinian militant groups within hours.
Israel claimed at least 250 rockets had been fired into Israel since Tuesday morning, with dozens intercepted by air defences.
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Israel responded with air strikes targeting what it said were Islamic Jihad sites and rocket-launching squads.
Militant group Hamas, which runs Gaza, issued a stern warning to Israel.
In a statement, the group warned the country “bears full responsibility for all consequences of this escalation and promised Al-Ata’s death “will not go unpunished”.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) warned the country was “prepared for several days of battle”, and said it would use the Iron Dome missile defence system to intercept rockets and strike back in Gaza if the rocket fire continued.
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On Wednesday morning, Israeli warplanes launched strikes in Gaza against Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants, who form a smaller militant group backed by Iran.
At least 20 people, including Islamic Jihad fighters, have been killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza since Monday morning, according to the Gaza health ministry.
A young Palestinian boy is said to have been killed alongside his father on Wednesday morning.
No serious injuries or fatalities have yet been reported in Israel.
Since the Gaza rallies began in March 2018, nearly 270 Palestinians have been killed and thousands more wounded by Israeli troops.