Israeli Jets Strike The Gaza Strip In Response To Rocket Attacks

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For the second time in just three days the Israeli Air Force stuck the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening following rockets being fired into Israel continuing a new wave of violence that has complicated peace talks.

The Israeli military said that it had attacked a weapons manufacturing plant and a weapons storage facility. Israeli aircraft scored direct hits on a “terror infrastructure” in Gaza according to the military.

Witnesses in Gaza said the F-16 fighter jets had hit an open space in northern Gaza City and a training facility south of the city. Gaza medical officials said one resident suffered minor injuries. The airstrikes came after two rockets landed near the Israeli city of Ashkelon on Thursday, one just after midnight and the other that evening. Neither caused injuries or damage.

On Tuesday, a Palestinian sniper fatally shot an Israeli who was repairing the security fence bordering Gaza prompting airstrikes, tank and infantry fire that killed a small child in Gaza and wounded several of her relatives. The exchanges are the most significant since a cease-fire agreement between Israel and the militant Hamas faction that controls the Gaza Strip was signed in November of 2012 after eight days of intense cross-border violence. Earlier Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Hamas would be held responsible even if other groups, like Islamic Jihad, actually fired the rockets from Gaza. “We will strike at those who attack us, and at those who support them,” he said at an air force graduation ceremony just hours before the evening attack.

Israeli military spokesman, Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, said in a statement that Gaza had become “a heinous sanctuary for rocket terrorism,” adding, “We will not tolerate daily aggression from the Hamas-ruled territory and are morally obligated to act against those threatening our communities, our towns and our cities.”

In addition to the airstrikes, Israel closed its lone commercial crossing into Gaza on Wednesday halting the transfer of badly needed fuel and preventing farmers from exporting strawberries. The director of Gaza’s sole power plant, which sputtered back to life on December 15 thanks to a donation of diesel from Qatar after being shuttered for six weeks, said it would go dark again by 6 a.m. on Friday. “We get fuel day by day,” said Rafik Maliha, the plant’s director. Gaza’s 1.7 million Palestinian residents had been without electricity for up to 18 hours a day when the power plant was not operating and some sewage pumping stations were overflowing into the streets.

The increase of violence in recent days raises new questions concerning the American-brokered peace negotiations that started in July. It also raises the question whether Israel will release the 26 long-serving Palestinian prisoners early next week as scheduled which would have been the third of four such releases. Despite pleas from Washington and European envoys, Israel was expected to couple the release with an announcement of further construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank which is something Palestinian leaders have said threatens the viability of the talks.

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After serving in the United States Navy for 22 years I retired from the service late in 1991. Having always loved the southwest, shortly after retiring, I moved to the Albuquerque area where I have resided since. Initially I worked as a contractor for approximately 6 years doing cable construction work. That becoming a little dangerous, at an elevated age, I moved into the retail store management environment managing convenience stores for roughly 16 years. With several disabilities, I am now fully retired and am getting more involved with helping Pastor Dewey & Pastor Paul with their operations at FGGAM which pleases my heart greatly as it truly is - "For God's Glory Alone". I met my precious wife Sandy here in Albuquerque and we have been extremely happily married for 18 years and I am the very proud father to Sandy's wonderful children, Tiana, our daughter, Ryan & Ross, our two sons, and proud grandparents to 5 wonderful grandchildren. We attend Christ Full Deliverance Ministries in Rio Rancho which is lead by Pastor's Marty & Paulette Cooper along with Elder Mable Lopez as regular members. Most of my time is now spent split between my family, my church & helping the Pastors by writing here on the FGGAM website and doing everything I can to support this fantastic ministry in the service of our Lord. Praise to GOD & GOD Bless to ALL! UPDATED 2021: Rick and Sandy moved to Florida a few years ago. We adore them and we pray for Rick as he misses Sandy so very, very much!

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