The Israeli Air Force targeted the southern Gaza Strip on Monday in an aerial attack aimed at a building used by the Palestinian Al Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade faction, allegedly behind the recent barrage of rocket fire on southern Israeli towns.
One missile was reportedly fired at the building, thought to be used by the group. No casualties were reported.
Israeli military sources stated that it had "targeted a building used by the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades terror organization," according to Haaretz.
On Sunday evening, three rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel, allegedly from the town of Beit Hanoun, just outside the "buffer zone", recently declared by Israel in response to continued Palestinian missile fire into Israeli territotry.
Israel also announced “Operation Blue Skies,” under which Israeli surveillance planes monitor the buffer zone strictly to detect the movement of those possibly planning more rocket attacks on Israel.
In addition, Israel has banned all movement in the former Israeli settlements of Nitzanit, Dugit and Elei Sinai, except by Palestinian security forces.
Also on Monday, an Israeli soldier was shot by Palestinian gunmen near a checkpoint in the West Bank town of Qalqilia. The soldier was evacuated to a hospital in the Israeli town of Petah Tikva, according to Israeli military sources.
Hamas yet to declare end of calm
Meanwhile, the Hamas faction has yet announce explicitly that it would not join other Palestinian factions such as Islamic Jihad in declaring an end to the period of calm agreed to with Israel with the coming of the new year.
Some feel that political motives may be behind the group’s decision, as an increase in violence may result in delays of Palestinian elections, currently set for January 25.
Israel claims that despite the fact that the Islamic Jihad faction agreed to the period of calm, it had not in practice adhered to the agreement, as it had claimed responsibility for attacks which killed some 24 Israelis in the West Bank over the course of the year.
Representatives of Islamic Jihad stated that the truce with Israel had cost the group more than it had gained them, and added that Israeli raids on Palestinians had continued during the truce and that many Palestinian prisoners had yet to be freed by Israel.
Israeli military sources claim that the period of calm was responsible for a 60 percent drop in the number of Israelis killed in 2005, and a 30 percent in the number of people wounded.
