5 Qassams fired after IAF kills Gaza gunmen

[Scurrilous]

Israeli aircraft target terror cell that fired anti-tank missile at soldiers patrolling Kissufim crossing area; five Qassams, mortar shell hit Negev shortly after attack, no injuries

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3681488,00.html

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"Five Qassam rockets and a mortar shell were fired on the western Negev Thursday in response to an Israeli air strike on a terror cell in the Gaza Strip that left three gunmen dead and another wounded.

The first rocket fell just before 9 am in an open area in the Sdot Negev Regional Council. About an hour later, two more rockets were fired from the Strip, landing in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. In both incidents there were no reports of injuries or damage.

Jihad's al-Quds Brigades claimed responsibility for the rocket fire. Later Thursday another rocket and mortar shell landed in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, also causing no injuries or damage. A fifth Qassam landed within the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council's limits at around 12:20 pm, but caused no harm.

The army said the terror cell was targeted shortly after it launched an anti-tank missile at soldiers patrolling the Kissufim crossing area. Palestinians said the gunmen were killed near the Elmarazi refugee camp in central Gaza.

An Israeli aerial assault launched Wednesday evening killed senior Islamic Jihad operative Khaled Khareb Khaled Sha'alan – who the army said was involved in the firing of rockets towards Israel, including the attacks against Ashkelon in recent days."

[Scurrilous]

1. Report: Hamas demands Islamic Jihad stop launching

Sources in Gaza say group wants to show control in region, not escalate situation while negotiations ongoing

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3681908,00.html

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"Hamas has asked Islamic Jihad operatives to stop firing rockets at Israel, Palestinian sources told Ynet on Thursday. Five rockets were fired on the western Negev from Gaza, following an IDF aerial strike that killed three Palestinian terrorists near Kissufim.

According to reports, Hamas is trying to convince the Islamic Jihad to cease rocket fire, on the grounds that doing so while ceasefire negotiations are in progress gives Israel an excuse to escalate military operations and undermine the relative quiet of the past several days.

Hamas sources said they viewed the Islamic Jihad's rocket fire as a legitimate response to the deaths of its operatives and is merely asking them to make do with the rockets launched so far.

Palestinian sources went so far as to suggest that although Hamas' official stance states that rocket fire towards Israel is legitimate while the crossings are closed, the group was displeased with Islamic Jihad's rocket fire.

The Palestinian sources added that, at this point, Hamas forces are not restraining rocket fire by force but they may do so in the future. The sources suggested that it is important for Hamas to show it has control of Gaza, particularly now that its representatives are in Cairo for talks."

[Scurrilous]

2. Attacks on south continue; Synagogue damaged

More rockets, mortar shells explode in open areas; no injuries or damages reported

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3682044,00.html

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"A Qassam rocket exploded Thursday evening in an open area in the Sha'ar Hanegev regional council. No injuries or damages were reported in the attack. Later, a Qassam rocket landed near a synagogue in the southern town of Netivot, damaging it but causing no injuries.

Earlier in the evening, two mortar shells fired from the Gaza strip landed in open areas in the south. No injuries or damages were reported in this attack either.

Five Qassam rockets and a mortar shell were fired on the western Negev earlier Thursday in response to an Israeli air strike on a terror cell in the Gaza Strip that left three gunmen dead and another wounded.

The first rocket fell just before 9 am in an open area in the Sdot Negev Regional Council. About an hour later, two more rockets were fired from the Strip, landing in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. In both incidents there were no reports of injuries or damage.

The Islamic Jihad's al-Quds Brigades claimed responsibility for the rocket fire earlier in the day."