http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/860482.html
Israel Air Force jets bombed a Hamas headquarters in Rafah yesterday, killing four Palestinians and injuring approximately 20 others. All the injured were Hamas militants.
In another raid that evening, the air force killed a Hamas militant on the outskirts of Gaza City. He was part of a crew of Qassam rocket launchers.
With the exception of these air raids, there has been no substantial change in Israel’s response in the Gaza Strip, even as the heavy barrages of Qassam rockets targeting Sderot and its environs entered its second day.
The Hamas headquarters served the Executive Force, the militia set up after the group came to power following national elections. Several rockets were fired at the structure during the attack, which took place at about 2 P.M. Part of the building collapsed, and four members of the Executive Force were killed.
This is the first such air strike against a Hamas target in more than six months. The air force has avoided attacks since November 2006, when Hamas announced its acceptance of the “calm” in the Gaza Strip and limited its involvement in the rocket attacks against Israel.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said yesterday that Israel would not become part of the Palestinian infighting. However, he also stressed that Israel would respond harshly to the continued Qassam attacks against its citizens.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held a security meeting yesterday afternoon in order to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip. Peretz, senior security officials and Israel Defense Forces officers attended.
A statement issued after the meeting confirmed that security forces were authorized to “strike at those launching Qassam rockets and their commanders.”
The practical implication is that the security forces have been authorized to resume their assassinations. At this stage, they will be directed mostly against those involved in launching the rockets – senior members of the Islamic groups.
The prime minister said during the meeting that Israel cannot continue showing restraint in the face of repeated attacks against its citizens.
Military sources said yesterday that in spite of the general policy maintaining that Israel must be careful not to be drawn in the fighting in the Gaza Strip, “it is impossible to ignore the continued [rocket] attacks. Hamas needs to know that there is a price to pay for targeting Sderot and its environs.”
However, the sources said that yesterday’s decisions were limited in scope and that at this stage there is no intention to deploy large ground forces in the Gaza Strip.
Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz was critical of yesterday’s decision and said that Israel is “doing too little, too late.”
The former chief of staff and defense minister said that as early as Tuesday, Israel should have taken steps in response to the first heavy rocket attacks against Sderot.
In the past few days, some 50 rockets were fired at Sderot and its environs. Two Sderot residents were seriously injured, while dozens others suffered lesser wounds or were treated for shock.