Israel Matzav

This is not a parody: 'Hamas has detained suspects'

At least one rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit southern Israel on Tuesday night, as alarms sounded across the region, the Israeli army said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the rocket, which landed near the town of Gan Yavneh, outside Ashdod, according to an IDF statement.

The projectile — a Grad missile — was located minutes after sirens sounded in the Lachish region and Ashdod.

It was unclear how many rockets were shot at Israel from Gaza. According to the IDF, initial signs pointed to one, though other reports put the nubmer as high as five.

...

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from Hamas or other terror groups in the coastal enclave.

However, an Israeli official said Jerusalem holds Hamas responsible for all attacks launched from the enclave, and the group was reportedly evacuating buildings and bases Tuesday night ahead of an expected Israeli retaliation.

A source in Gaza said the firing was the result of an internal dispute inside the Islamic Jihad terror group, which has included kidnappings of people in northern Gaza.

The source said Islamic Jihad recently appointed a new commander to oversee the northern region of the coastal enclave.

The new commander was supposed to start his new position today officially, but his predecessor opposed it, sparking clashes between the two commanders’ supporters.

The new commander’s men then kidnapped two operatives working under the former commander and, in retaliation, the predecessor’s followers decided to fire rockets at Israel.

Hamas security forces are now searching the area from which the rockets were launched and have detained several suspects, according to the source.

Labels: Gaza, Hamas, Hamas courts, Hamas rockets, Richard Goldstone

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:25 AM