JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Air Force attacked a group of Palestinians preparing to fire rockets from southern Gaza into Israel, killing one.
The men were members of the Popular Resistance Committee, according to a statement from the Israeli army, which said three Palestinians also were injured in Tuesday night’s attack.
The death of local commander Jihad Smairi is the first fatality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the new year, according to Reuters.
In 2009, about 790 Kassam rockets, mortar shells and Grad missiles were fired into Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
"The IDF will not tolerate rocket fire into Israel by terrorist organizations and will continue to respond to any attempt to disrupt the calm in the communities of southern Israel," the IDF said.
