JERUSALEM (JTA) — Gaza Palestinians fired nine rockets at Israel on Thursday following border battles that left an Israeli soldier injured and three Hamas members dead.
The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted one of the rockets, while the others landed in open areas in Israel near the border fence.
An Israeli soldier patrolling the border with Gaza was injured Wednesday evening by sniper fire as he urged about 20 Palestinian children approaching the border fence to go back, the Israeli army said. The incident occurred near the spot where an Israeli soldier was killed Friday under similar circumstances.
The Israeli army retaliated by firing on seven Hamas military positions in Gaza. Three members of the Hamas border patrol unit were killed in the attacks, according to reports citing Gaza’s Health Ministry. Another Hamas member is reported to be in seriously injured.
“Israel will pay in blood for its latest crimes,” Hamas’ military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement issued Thursday.
