Israel kills Hamas commander as airstrikes on Gaza continue

Israel killed Hamas commander Saed Al Bitran yesterday in their bombing runs across the Gaza strip. It's claimed the serious injury of a dozen people and the killing of one, was in retaliation for a rocket that landed harmlessly in Ashkelon about 10 miles from Gaza. So the IDF says their air strike was justified retaliation. Israel carried out a further strike, on the tunnels in the south this Sunday morning and one injury has been reported so far.

But countless Palestinians have been killed by Israel since the end of the recent war and not a single Israeli. In other words the Palestinians have plenty of reasons for retaliation while the Israelis have none.

This was Israel's first air strike on the centre of Gaza City in 18 months and marks an escalation, as the death of the Hamas commander will certainly be avenged. Perhaps Israel wants a little war to forestall the arrival of the flotilla and aid convoys in September?

A salafist group has now claimed responsibility for the rocket firest from Gaza that hit Ashkelon:

Gaza – Ma'an – A military group affiliated to the Salafi movement in Gaza claimed responsibility for launching a homemade project toward southern Israel on Saturday, a statement issued Sunday read.

The At-Tawhid and Jihad wing said the projectile was fired at 9:42 p.m. "in retaliation to the ongoing Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people."
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