Hamas has fired thousands of rockets at Israel over the years, among other acts of terror. Illustrative photo of spent Rockets fired from Gaza. By Joshua Spurlock.
Over the last couple months, Gaza terrorists have launched numerous rockets at Israel—first after Israel destroyed a Gaza terror tunnel destined for Israel, then in apparent violent protest since the United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital—and now the reason for the latest attacks may be to back a dictator over 1,000 miles away in Iran. The IDF Spokesperson said that rockets used last week were Iranian-made, arguing that the attacks benefit the interests of the Iranian regime to the detriment of the Palestinians in Gaza.
The rockets were fired at Israel during a ceremony for fallen soldier Oron Shaul, whose body is still held by Gaza terrorists. The IDF Spokesperson’s Twitter feed said the attack “violated moral and humane standards,” and then blamed Iran for the act of terror.
“The rockets were launched by a terror organization that used standard-grade Iranian weapons. This is a severe incident that proves once more how much these terror organizations despise the residents of Gaza & are willing to put them at risk of escalation over Iranian interests,” tweeted the IDF Spokesperson.
In a follow-up tweet, the IDF Spokesperson continued to assail Iran’s violent interference. “The Iranian regime continues to risk the safety of the residents of the Gaza Strip and puts them in grave danger. Wherever the Iranian regime operates or is involved, it only wreaks havoc and destruction,” said the Twitter post.
IDF Spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus chimed in via Twitter as well, noting that while Hamas is responsible for Gaza attacks on Israel, “Iran finances and equips.”
Israel’s highlighting of Iranian financing of terrorist attacks isn’t just their concern. According to reports, Iranian protestors are also upset about their government spending their limited resources to back terror groups, such as Hamas in Gaza, as Iranians struggle economically at home. Conricus posted a link on Twitter to an opinion article in The Washington Post noting that sentiment and quoted the protesters cited in the report. “’#NotGaza #NotLebanon, I give my life for Iran’ That is what protesters all over Iran are chanting as they state what we are saying: Iranian regime sponsors terrorism,” tweeted Conricus.
In response to recent rockets, the IDF Spokesperson tweeted that Israeli tanks and aircraft have struck multiple Hamas facilities in Gaza.
That is just a small sample of the Israeli response to the latest cycle of Gaza rocket attacks according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Since we destroyed the terrorist tunnel that penetrated into our territory several weeks ago, the IDF has attacked approximately 40 Hamas targets including an additional attack by the air force last night,” said Netanyahu in a statement from his office on Sunday.
“…Attempts to attack us have not ceased, but our policy is clear—whoever tries to hurt us, we will hurt them.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, December 31, 2017)