JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s foreign minister ordered the country’s delegation to the United Nations to file a formal complaint after over 50 mortars struck southern Israel in one morning.
More than 50 mortars were fired from Gaza into Israel on Saturday morning. Two Israelis were injured by shrapnel and homes and buildings sustained damage, according to reports. Hamas’ armed wing Izzadin Kassam Brigades claimed responsibility for 10 of the explosives.
Israel’s military struck several Hamas targets with tanks and aerial fire in Gaza later Saturday in response to the barrage. The strike lasted some 45 minutes, Ynet reported, and at least two Hamas terrorists reportedly were hurt.
The previous day, 10 mortars were fired on Israel from Gaza.
In the complaint, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman decried international support for the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying that it would be a "terrorist state whose primary goal is the destruction of Israel." He also noted that the attack on Israel came as Hamas and the Fatah Party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas were talking about reconciliation.
Israel also filed a formal complaint with the U.N. Security Council on March 18 over its seizure of the cargo ship Victoria, which was transporting concealed arms from Iran via Syria to Gaza via Egypt.
Meanwhile, gunmen claiming to be from Hamas on Saturday raided the Gaza offices of the Reuters news agency, striking one employee with a metal bar, and smashing a television and other equipment. The gunmen also raided the offices of CNN and the Japanese station NHK.
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